[KISS PR News, Islamabad Correspondent] - As Pakistan battles the third wave of the pandemic, fuelled by the UK strain of the virus, the nation is seeing a colossal rise in Covid-19 cases.
On Saturday, 24th April 2021, the COVID-19 death toll in Pakistan reached its highest level in a single day, with 157 fatalities in the previous 24 hours. The previous high recorded a total of 153 deaths on June 20 of the last year.
According to the most recent statistics by the Pakistan government, a total of 790,016 COVID-19 confirmed cases have been reported to date, with 16,999 total deaths recorded and 686,488 recovered patients. [1]
With Punjab being the most affected, 285,542 cases recorded, followed by Sindh with 276,670 cases, the third outbreak of the pandemic has ravaged the entire nation.
The recent data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) shows 52,402 tests were performed in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, with 5,908 of them returning positive.
According to Federal Minister Asad Umar, about 90% of Pakistan's oxygen potential is being used. The health sector accounted for 80 percent of the total.
As the condition in India worsens every day, the Imran Khan government, completely swayed by the relentless fatal outbreak of COVID-19, is considering implementing lockdown in major cities if the nation's blatant breaches of precautionary steps remain rampant.
"I appeal to you to follow the SOPs so that we don't have to take steps that India is taking: sending cities into lockdowns. Half the problem is solved when you wear facemasks," the Prime Minister said. [2]
On Friday, Pakistan Army troops accompanied by local officials visited several markets in the capital region to assess the implementation of COVID-19 SOPs.
To prevent the virus from spreading further, the government has taken the following actions:
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Schools in all districts with a positivity rate of more than 5% to remain shut.
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Markets to be closed at 6 p.m., with only stores selling necessities remaining open until late.
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All indoor and outdoor dining to be restricted during Ramadan.
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Gyms to remain closed.
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Offices to close at 2 p.m., with 50% of employees working from home.
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The government will develop a comprehensive procedure for testing and quarantining travelers from other countries.
As per Minister of Information Fawad Chaudhry's statement, the government will immunize the entire nation within a year as the country's coronavirus cases continue to grow.
Passenger flights to several countries from Pakistan have been banned due to the growing surge in Covid cases. Canadian government imposed the ban on Thursday, followed by the Saudi kingdom to announce the restriction on Friday, and Iran on Saturday night. Previously, the UK and Oman have barred passenger flights from Pakistan.
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Published by: Book Club
Source: NewsService
Release ID: 17941