For the first time since July, Pakistan has reported less than 70,000 active cases across the country, marking a continuation of the downward trend of coronavirus in the current wave.
The national tally of active Covid-19 cases was recorded 65,725 on Friday with 2,928 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 13,716 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.
Sixty-eight coronavirus patients have died during the past 24 hours, including those who were under treatment in the hospitals and also in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the National Command and Operation Centre.
There were 4,960 Covid infected patients under treatment in critical condition in various Covid dedicated healthcare facilities of the country.
The National Covid positivity ratio during the past 24 hours was recorded at 5.08 percent.
Some 57,626 tests were conducted across the country on Thursday. Around 1,125,952 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients.
Since the pandemic broke out, a total of 1,218,749 cases were detected that also included the perished, recovered and under treatment Covid-19 patients so far, including AJK 33,628, Balochistan 32,707, GB 10,222, ICT 103,720, KP 170,391, Punjab 419,423 and Sindh 448,658.
About 27,072 deaths were recorded in the country since the eruption of the contagion.
A total of 18,740,356 coronavirus tests have been conducted so far, while 640 hospitals are equipped with Covid facilities across the country.
Moreover, the NCOC took notice of carrying out coronavirus rapid testing by private laboratories at airports.
According to details, the authorities have directed the Health Department to review the standard and prices of the tests.
Earlier, NCOC announced to ease restrictions following the decline in the coronavirus cases amid the fourth wave of the pandemic.
The meeting chaired by Asad Umar, head of the National Command and Operations Center, reviewed the coronavirus situation in detail across the country and important decisions were taken.
According to a notification issued by the NCOC, markets across the country will remain open till 10 pm except in the districts with increased cases, while indoor and outdoor dining will be allowed till 12 pm.
Indoor events will be allowed up to 200 vaccinated people while 400 vaccinated people will be allowed to attend outdoor events.
It bears mentioning that another 0.5 million doses of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine have arrived in Pakistan, the National Disaster Management Authority said on Friday.
In a statement on its official Twitter handle, the authority said the vaccine purchased by it arrived on September 16 and has been handed over to the Ministry of National Health and Services, Regulations and Coordination.
The first consignment of the Russian-made Covid-19 vaccine Sputnik V reached Pakistan on Sept 01.
It is noteworthy that Pakistan has begun free of cost administration of Sputnik vaccine at a Lahore Covid vaccination centre as previously private health institutes were charging fees for its jab.
According to details, the Sputnik vaccine is administered free of cost at Expo Centre Lahore and its second dose will be administered after a period of 21 days. Previously, Sputnik was administered at private health institutes where they charged Rs12,000 for the two doses.
With additional input from APP, INP
