-Death toll reaches near 15000
4,974 fresh infections Positivity rate stands
at 9.93%
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Coronavirus on Thursday has claimed 98 more lives in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, taking the overall death toll to 14,530.
The latest statistics of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed the COVID-19 has claimed 98 more lives and 4,974 fresh infections were reported during the period.
During the period of a day, the total count of active cases was recorded at 53,127 and the positivity rate stood at 9.93 per cent. The health facilities across the country conducted 50,055 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 10,247,374 since the first case was reported.
According to the statistics, 106 patients were declared critical, adding to the total number of patients suffering from sensitive health condition up to 3,303.
Overall 605,274 people have recovered from the virus including 2,148 who have regained their health from COVID-19 during the past 24 hours.
Agencies add: The authorities have announced a free
coronavirus test for the people of Lahore. The announcement was made by Lahore Commissioner Captain (r) Muhammad Usman on Thursday. All the citizens have to do is to call on 1133 for the free corona test. The urgency reflected the gravity of the situation after the third Covid-19 wave intensified in Punjab.
According to the data shared by the spokesperson of Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), the number of coronavirus cases in the province has reached 223,181. The P&SHD confirmed that 1,768 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Lahore, 9 in Kasur, 31 in Sheikhupura, 7 in Nankana Sahib, 150 in Rawalpindi, 14 in Attock, 6 in Jehlum, 2 in Chakwal, 56 in Gujranwala, 48 in Mandi Bahauddin, 8 in Narowal, 2 in Hafizabad, 83 in Sialkot, 47 in Gujrat, 180 in Faisalabad, and 19 in Toba Tek Singh.
21 cases were reported in Chiniot, 11 in Jhang, 44 in Sargodha, 1 in Mianwali, 17 in Khushab, 2 in Bhakkar, 105 in Multan, 14 in Vehari, 16 in Khanewal, 9 in Lodharan, 2 in Muzaffargarh, and 7 in Dera Ghazi Khan.
Moreover, there were 4 new cases in Rajanpur, 1 in Layyah, 28 in Rahimyar Khan, 52 in Bahawalpur, 28 in Bahawalnagar, 30 in Okara, 13 in Pakpattan and 32 new cases of Covid-19 were reported in Sahiwal district during the last 24 hours. The Punjab health department conducted 3,838,133 tests for Covid-19 so far while 189,856 confirmed cases recovered altogether in the province.
The Punjab health department urged the masses to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) for their protection and cover their faces with masks. People should wash their hands with soap several times a day to protect themselves from Covid-19. Contact 1033 immediately on symptoms of coronavirus, the health care department urged the citizens.
It is pertinent here to mention that more than 110 doctors of Lahore’s Services Hospital have contracted the virus. Some of the affected medics are isolating themselves at their homes while the others at the hospital’s hostel. Over ten of the victims are said to be in critical condition.
“In last 07 days almost above 100 doctors of SHL (Services Hospital Lahore) have been infected with Covid-19 fighting on the frontline, leading to acute shortage of working doctors,” the Young Doctors Association (YDA) president said in a letter.
In light of the third wave of the pandemic and shortage of doctors, the YDA demanded that the government recruit medical officers and Covid-19 consultants, ensure vaccination of all doctors of the hospital, and reduce out-patient department (OPD) visits.
Meanwhile, the government of Pakistan has opened registration for vaccination against the novel coronavirus for people of 50 years and above on Thursday.
The people belong to the above-50 age group can now get themselves be registered at 1166 to receive the code for vaccination. The person will be informed about the vaccination centre after he will get the registration code at 1166. Dr Faisal Sultan, Prime Minister’s aide on health, yesterday said that Pakistan has so far administered over 800,000 doses of the coronavirus vaccine.
Federal Minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), recently announced the opening of registration for the nationals aged 50 years and above to get registered for Covid-19 vaccination from March 30.
In a Twitter message, Umar reiterated that the registration for people aged 60 and above has already been open. He asked nationals to encourage everybody who is 50 plus to go for registration for the vaccination.
Moreover, in a bid to control rising cases of coronavirus in the federal capital, authorities have decided to observe ‘safe days’ for businesses.
Vaccination begins for above-50
