Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity ratio exceeded 2 percent in a single day for the first time since October 14 last year, as 1,085 new infections were reported during the last 24 hours, official data showed on Thursday.
According to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the new cases pushed the positivity rate to 2.32 percent, which is a 0.5 percent increase in Wednesday’s ratio, which was 1.8 percent.
As many as five patients succumbed to the virus in the last 24 hours, while 636 patients are in critical condition.
The casualties took the nationwide death tally to 28,955, while 247 patients recuperated, placing the number of total recoveries at 1,257,847.
According to the NCOC, the total number of cases reported in Pakistan so far has reached 1,299,848.
A day earlier, SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan has warned against spread of Omicron variant urging people not to take it “lightly” as hospitalisation will increase in the next one to two weeks.
Planning Minister Asad Umar warned on Wednesday that the Omicron variant of the coronavirus was spreading rapidly in Pakistan and feared that it would spread even more quickly in days to come.
Umar, the NCOC chief, told a media briefing along with Dr Faisal, that vaccination and following the Covid-induced standard operating procedures (SOPs) were the only way to avoid the spread of the new variant.
In Pakistan, the NCOC chief said that 60 percent of the cases were reported from two major cities – Karachi and Lahore.
“This is just the beginning in Pakistan that will spread more quickly in the coming days. I urge all the people to vaccinate themselves as soon as possible if they have not vaccinated yet. Especially, the elderly and women must inoculate themselves,” he said.
