Pakistan reports over 100 deaths for third straight day

NO LET UP IN CORONAVIRUS SURGE AS DEATH TOLL NEARS 16,000 MARK

Pakistan yesterday reported 118 Covid-19 deaths — the third straight day that the country has reported more than 100 deaths in its daily update.

According to the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC), 5,395 cases of fresh infections were reported on Thursday following 64,685 tests countrywide.

Meanwhile, 4,740 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking total recoveries to 646,652. The country’s Covid-19 positivity hovered around 8.34 per cen while its tally of active cases stood at 77,294, NCOC data showed.

Four schools sealed

A positivity rate of five per cent or less is considered a good benchmark that the spread of the disease is under control.

With 68 deaths, Punjab seems to be the worst-hit province, accounting for nearly 58 per cent of all fatalities in the country in the past 24 hours.

Health officials have said that the third wave was driven by the UK strain of the virus and was more infections and dangerous.

PHC issues new guidelines

In wake of rising coronavirus cases, the Peshawar High Court (PHC) court has asked district , sessions and civil courts to consider only urgent hearing, bail and suspension of sentence.

Habeas corpus petitions and applications under section 22-A and 22-B of Code of Criminal Procedure (Justice of Peace) fall in the category of urgent cases as well as those that are in the final stages. Earlier, four girls schools were sealed in Quetta after some students and tested positive for the virus.

According to Quetta’s district education officer, Govt Girls High School Postal Colony, Girls High School Huda Monu Jn Rood, Girls High School Railway Colony and Govt Girls High School will remain shut for seven days.

Vaccine shipments

Head of the National Command and Operations Centre, Asad Umar, yesterday said that three more shipments of coronavirus vaccines will reach the country this month..

Speaking to a TV news channel, Umar said Pakistan will have enough vaccines by June to inoculate 15 million people.

There are more than 25 million people aged 50 and above in Pakistan. Of these, so far, 1.8 million people have registered for a vaccine, said Umar.