After more than three months, Pakistan reported highest number of coronavirus cases, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) said on Wednesday
According to NCOC data, 2,074 new coronavirus cases were reported in the last 24 hours – the highest number since September 24, 2021.
Following the detection of new cases, the positivity ratio has reached 4.70 percent and overall infections have jumped past 1.309 million.
Pakistan also reported 13 deaths in the last 24 hours, the highest since December 15, 2021, pushing the toll to 28,987, NCOC figures showed.
The country’s partial vaccinations, as of Tuesday, moved up to 163.65 million after 811,901 more people received the jab, according to the NCOC.
Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, Karachi’s coronavirus positivity ratio has moved past 20.22 percent, with the Sindh Health Department considering a 14-day “special vaccination programme” in several cities of Sindh.
According to health department, infections of Omicron variant in Karachi has reached alarming levels.
The department said 6,048 tests were conducted in Karachi during the last 24 hours, of which 1,223 were positive. The rate of Omicron variant cases in the city has gone up to more than 95 percent.
Meanwhile, in the last 24 hours, the coronavirus positivity rate in Lahore was 7 percent, in Rawalpindi 4 percent and in Islamabad it was 4.5 percent.
At least 22 cases of Omicron variant were detected in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa of which 19 were reported from the provincial capital Peshawar.
However, none of them are under treatment in the hospital, Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was informed on Tuesday during a meeting on coronavirus.
FAWAD RULES OUT LOCKDOWN: Despite rising cases, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Fawad Chaudhry said on Tuesday that the government would not impose lockdown in the country and dismissed reports of schools’ closure.
The information minister, addressing a post-cabinet press conference, said the federal cabinet was informed that the COVID-19 positivity ratio had doubled in the country.
“But despite this, it is our resolve that we absolutely not impose a lockdown in Pakistan. Our economy cannot bear the burden [of another lockdown],” he said.
The information minister said “an excellent” vaccination campaign was underway.
“Pakistan has a success story of dealing with coronavirus. We will not impose a lockdown. We will, however, monitor the situation. We urge everyone to wear masks,” he said.
