The country reported 141 more deaths from Covid-19, the highest number of fatalities recorded in one day since 161 deaths were recorded on May 4, according to the data released by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday.
With these 141 fatalities, the total number of coronavirus-related deaths in the country now stands at 25,220. Another 4,199 people tested positive for Covid-19 after 61,410 tests were taken, bringing the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 1,135,858.
The positivity rate now stands at 6.83 percent. In the last 24 hours, 3,915 patients have recovered from Covid-19 across the country, after which the total number of those who have recovered has reached 1,019,434 while the number of active cases is 91,204.
Sindh reported at least 1,404 new Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 425,476.
According to Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, 29 more people fell prey to the deadly disease as the death toll surged to 6,742. He further said that 915 more patients recovered overnight, lifting the total to 369,639.
At least 721 new coronavirus cases emerged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the past 24 hours, lifting the tally to 158,964.
The health officials said that 20 more people died from the deadly virus in the province as the death toll jumped to 4,859. They further said that 825 more patients recovered overnight, taking the total to 146,629.
At least 80 more people contracted coronavirus in Balochistan during the last 24 hours, taking the tally to 31,070.
According to health officials, no deaths were reported in the province. So far 338 patients have succumbed to the deadly virus. As many as 30,245 patients have recovered from the disease in the province so far.
Despite the daily increase in cases, a Reuters report indicates that Covid-19 infections are decreasing in Pakistan, with 3,765 new infections reported on average each day. That is 64% of the peak — the highest daily average reported on June 17.
Pakistan has administered at least 47,802,106 doses of Covid vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs two doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 10.7% of the country’s population.
During the last week reported, Pakistan averaged about 594,775 doses administered each day. At that rate, it will take a further 73 days to administer enough doses for another 10% of the population.
Pakistan announced Tuesday vaccinations will be required of teachers, professors, school staff and students older than 17 and unvaccinated people will be barred from entering educational institutions starting October 15.
Unvaccinated people also will not be allowed to use public transport or enter shopping malls from October 15.
Pakistan, with a population of about 220 million, has reported more than 1,134,000 infections and 25,220 deaths in the pandemic.