Pakistan’s daily Covid count dips for first time in a month

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported 2,988 new Covid infections in a single day, taking the total caseload to 1,207,508 as the country reported fewer cases of the infection compared to a few weeks ago, however, coronavirus claimed 67 lives during the last 24 hours.

It is for the first time in more than a month that the country reported less than 3,000 coronavirus cases as on 25th July, 2,819 cases of the virus had been reported. Earlier, the daily case count had mostly been hovering between 3,000-4,000 range for a month.

According to the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the national tally of active Covid-19 cases was recorded as 90,545, while 3,391 people recovered from the deadly disease during the last 24 hours.

Among the 67 deaths during the last 24 hours, 62 patients were under treatment in hospitals and five were in their respective quarantines or homes, while 24 were on ventilators.The national Covid positivity ratio during the last 24 hours was recorded as 5.62 per cent.

Around 5,066 patients were under treatment in critical condition in various Covid dedicated healthcare facilities across the country. Since the pandemic broke out, a total of 1,207,508 corona cases have been detected across the country. Sindh has reported 445,369 cases; Punjab, 414,390; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 168,748; Balochistan, 32,591; Islamabad, 102,863; Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 33,379; and Gilgit-Baltistan, 10,168.

Some 53,158 tests were conducted across the country on Sunday, taking the number of total tests to 18,521,728, while 640 hospitals are equipped with Covid facilities across the country. The national tally of fatalities has reached 26,787.Around 1,090,176 people have recovered from the disease so far across the country making it a significant count with over 90 per cent recovery ratio.

Meanwhile, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said on Monday coronavirus was still present in the country, warning the masses it was not the time to take off masks.

Speaking at a ceremony, Dr Sultan added the outbreak of the virus can be reduced if people get vaccinated and maintain social distancing. Updating on the status of vaccinations, Dr Sultan informed that almost 20 million people had been vaccinated against the infection in Pakistan. He, however, warned that the fourth Covid-19 wave could be brought under control only by abiding the SOPs.

In order to encourage people to wear face masks, the World Health Organisation (WHO), in collaboration with district health authorities of Islamabad, launched a campaign titled “Wear a Mask - Protect Pakistan”.

Speaking on the occasion, WHO’s representative in Pakistan, Doctor Palitha Mahipala remarked that the vaccination campaign in Pakistan was going well. Mahipala added that the goal of the WHO’s campaign was to make use of masks mandatory and in the coming days, the health organisation will launch a campaign distributing masks at railway stations, bus stops, and other public places. The WHO representative remarked that the outbreak of coronavirus can be easily controlled in Pakistan.