Coronavirus update: 5,611 test positive in a single day
Pakistan reports 118 new coronavirus deaths, raising the death tally to 795,627 nationwide. 55,128 tests tests conducted in the last 24 hours from which 5,611 tests returned positive.
The positivity rate of coronavirus stands at 10.17% as of Sunday. Pakistan reported 118 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, raising the death tally to 795,627 nationwide as the country continues to grapple with the third wave of the infection.
As per official data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 55,128 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours from which 5,611 tests returned positive. The positivity rate of the coronavirus in Pakistan stands at 10.17% as of Sunday. Amid a third wave of the pandemic, the country has reported 739,818 COVID-19 cases so far since the infection was first reported last year. The number of active cases now stand at 795,627 with nationwide recoveries rising to 689,812.
The coronavirus situation has deteriorated further in Pakistan, leading to stringent restrictions from the NCOC to curb the spread of the virus. The NCOC is considering the enforcement of a lockdown in cities reporting high positivity ratios, according to a statement released a day earlier.
The statement follows an NCOC session held yesterday, with Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in the chair. According to the NCOC statement, in light of increasing coronavirus cases, the forum "deliberated upon proposed lockdowns in high disease prevalence cities".The statement made no mention of what positivity ratio the forum considers high enough to warrant a lockdown.
The NCOC had clarified that talks would be held with stakeholders before a lockdown is imposed.Meanwhile, the government of Sindh has sought help from the Pakistan Army in implementing coronavirus SOPs as cases of the virus surge across the country. The provincial government has written to the Ministry of Interior, seeking the army's help for the civil administration under Article 245 of the Constitution.
Sindh government said it would inform the interior ministry about details regarding troop employment and equipment after holding consultations over the matter. On the other hand, Sindh information ministry Nasir Hussain Shah has warned that the provincial government will impose a lockdown if the situation turns alarming in Sindh.
"The provincial government is ready; if [coronavirus] situation worsens, we will impose a lockdown," he had said on Saturday, speaking on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan.
A day earlier, army troops were deployed in Islamabad and Peshawar after PM Imran Khan announced their help would be needed in ensuring implementation of safety protocols. Officials of the Islamabad administration had visited various areas in the city on Friday with army personnel in tow to enforce the implementation of coronavirus protocols.
Assistant Commissioner Rana Musa Tahir had visited different commercial areas with an army and police escort and took action against violators.
The district administration, in a statement, had said 1,997 inspections were carried out on Friday, while 28 shops and one restaurant were sealed for violating coronavirus SOPs.
Nine people were arrested for hoarding and violation of SOPs, the administration said, adding that fines worth Rs226,000 were imposed for not abiding by safety protocols.
The army and district administration officials had also inspected 85 mosques, said the statement. On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he has directed the military - as well as police and Rangers - to help ensure that SOPs regarding COVID-19 are being strictly implemented and followed.
In a televised address after chairing a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) over COVID19, the prime minister had urged the masses to adopt preventive measures against coronavirus so that the situation remains under control and a lockdown of big cities is avoided.
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he has directed the military - as well as police and Rangers - to help ensure that SOPs regarding COVID-19 are being strictly implemented and followed.