Pakistan COVID-19 Update: Third wave intensifies across country with positivity rate of 9.92%

Pakistan on Thursday reported 4,974 coronavirus cases and 98 deaths.

This is the highest number of daily infections reported since June 20, 2020, when 5,948 cases were reported.

According to available data, Pakistan has reported 2,148 coronavirus recoveries during the last 24 hours, while active cases are 53,127.

Region-wise breakdown of coronavirus cases and deaths is as follows:

• Punjab: 2,789 cases, 62 deaths
• Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 1,044 cases, 21 deaths
• Islamabad: 724 cases, 4 deaths
• Sindh: 247 cases, 5 deaths
• Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 142 cases, 3 deaths
• Balochistan: 19 cases, 1 death
• Gilgit-Baltistan: 9 cases

Meanwhile, provinces have been asked to increase the pace of vaccination to utilize available doses, said Federal Minister Asad Umar.

“Received 5 lakh 60 thousand procured vaccines yesterday. Another 5 lakhs will arrive tonight. Reviewed the vaccine administration situation in NCOC today and asked the provinces to increase the pace of vaccination to fully utilize the vaccines which have been made available,” he said in a tweet.

Punjab Is The Worst-hit Region With The Third Wave of COVID-19:

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar in a press conference on Thursday said that the coronavirus (COVID-19) positivity rate in some cities of the province is over 12 percent.

He also approved the procurement of coronavirus vaccine for the province, saying that 1.5 billion rupees have been allocated for the purchase of vaccine doses.

“The provincial government will purchase more than one million doses with its own resources,” he added.

According to thy official data, a total of 19,367 under-18 children have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak of the infections in Punjab so far.

As per the report, 8,520 children got infected during the first three months of the current year in the province.

Similarly, out of the total children infected in Punjab, 8,390 are from Lahore.

Sindh Imposes Complete Ban On Meetings, Processions & Social Events:

Keeping in view the recent spike in COVID19 cases across the country Sindh government has issued new Corona SOPs.

A complete ban has been imposed on meetings, processions, and social events.

The government has banned all indoor and outdoor weddings from April 6. All public and private sector organizations will be allowed to call 50% of staff to the workplace, according to the new directives.

According to a notification issued by the Sindh home department, businesses in the province will only be allowed to remain open from 6 am to 8 pm.

Furthermore, there will be no business activity on Saturdays and Sundays.

However, medical stores, clinics, hospitals, petrol stations, bakeries, and milk shops have been exempted. The restrictions will remain in place until April 11.

Outdoor dining at restaurants will be allowed until 10 pm. After that, only takeaways and deliveries will be permitted.

Furthermore, the intercity transport services can accommodate only 50% of passengers with strict compliance of virus SOPs.

The coronavirus situation in Sindh will be reviewed at the National Command and Operation Centre meeting on April