Staff Report
ISLAMABAD: A day after Pakistan reported the highest number of COVID-related deaths, the pandemic has claimed 118 more lives in the country during the last 24 hours.According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 118 people died of Covid-19 in a single day, pushing the national tally to 17,117.
As many as 5,611 new infections surfaced when 55,611 samples were tested. The country’s overall positivity ratio of new cases jumped to 10.17%, according to the NCOC.
The national tally of confirmed cases climbed to 795,627 with the addition of 5,611 cases. Yesterday, Federal Minister for Science and Technology Senator Shibli Faraz had said that demand and supply for oxygen in the country were satisfactory as the government prepares for a backup plan to ensure its smooth supply in case of worsening COVID-19 situation.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner Hyderabad, Fuad Ghaffar, imposed a smart lockdown in more localities of the city after they reported a spike in Covid-19 positive cases as part of the third and deadlier wave of the coronavirus.
A notification has been issued regarding the imposition of smart lockdown in 11 Union Councils of the Hyderabad district from April 25 to May 5. The neighbourhoods where smart lockdowns have been imposed include two UCs of Latifabad, five UCs of Qasimabad, and one union council Hyderabad rural tehsil.
The streets and houses identified as Covid-19 hotspots in these areas will remain sealed for a period of 11 days.
According to the notification, all persons have to wear face masks who are entering or leaving the specific areas, whereas, unnecessary movement of the people has also been banned.
All business and industrial activities will remain suspended in these areas, while the pillion riding has been banned.
All kinds of family gatherings will be banned in the said areas and the coronavirus-positive persons will be quarantined in their homes.
The positivity rate of COVID-19 cases has recorded at 24 pc in Hyderabad, the statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stated.
Also, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government on Sunday has decided to impose a week-long complete lockdown in Mardan after witnessing the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases above 40 per cent.
The KP government spokesperson Kamran Bangash announced that a seven-day complete lockdown will be imposed in Mardan from Monday (tomorrow). He added that the positivity rate of COVID-19 cases has crossed 40 per cent mark in Mardan. He detailed that pharmacies and shops of essential commodities will remain open. Bangash appealed to citizens to strictly following the standard operating procedures (SOPs).
A day after Pakistan reported the highest number of COVID-related deaths, the pandemic claimed 118 more lives in the country during the last 24 hours.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 118 people died of Covid-19 in a single day, pushing the national tally to 17,117. As many as 5,611 new infections surfaced when 55,611 samples were tested. The country’s overall positivity ratio of new cases jumped to 10.17%, according to the NCOC. The national tally of confirmed cases climbed to 795,627 with the addition of 5,611 cases.
