Pakistan on Friday reported 7,678 fresh Covid-19 cases during the last 24 hours, the highest number of cases since the pandemic began in February, 2020.
It is pertinent to note that Pakistan had last seen the highest number of Covid-19 cases on June 13, 2020, with the country reporting 6,825 infections.
Moreover, 23 fatalities were also reported during this period while the national positivity rate rose to 12.93 per cent.
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the number of active cases rose to over 57,000 while 961 patients were in critical care.
The top six cities with the highest positivity ratio are as follows:
- Karachi: 45.43pc
- Muzaffarabad: 23.94pc
- Islamabad: 18.91pc
- Lahore: 17.89pc
- Rawalpindi: 17.47pc
- Peshawar: 15.59pc
The data also showed that Karachi had the highest positivity rate in the country at 45.43pc, followed by 23.94pc in Muzaffarabad and 18.91pc in Islamabad.
The fresh surge in cases is being driven by the Omicron variant of the coronavirus which has triggered a fifth wave of the disease in the country.
The Ministry of National Health Services urged citizens to get vaccinated and to wear face masks. “As the Omicron variant surges, we are seeing a drastic increase in the number of Covid-19 cases this month,” it said.
Meanwhile, the NCOC issued fresh standard operating procedures (SOPs) for mosques and worship places across the country.
Under the SOPs, only vaccinated individuals are allowed to offer prayer in mosques or worship places while wearing face masks has been declared mandatory.
The worshippers will be required to maintain a social distancing of at least six feet and mosques have been asked to remove mats and carpets from their premises.
The NCOC also advised elderly and comorbid persons to prefer offering prayer at home and maintain minimal attendance for the prayer.
The SOPs also recommended use of hand sanitiser frequently and organising prayer in open spaces or ensure proper ventilation to contain the spread of the contagious disease.
The forum further announced that all schools situated in areas with a high Covid-19 positivity ratio will remain closed for one week across the country.
According to a notification issued in this regard, the NCOC said that provincial administration, in consultation with district health and education authorities, and school administrations, are to set a threshold of cases for deciding such closures.
Pakistan has also started administering booster doses to the population. Earlier, people who were 30 years or older and immunocompromised individuals above 12 years of age could receive a booster dose. However, the NCOC later reduced the age limit, allowing citizens over 18 to receive booster jabs.
Earlier this week, the NCOC banned indoor gatherings, weddings and dining in districts and cities with Covid-19 positivity rate exceeding 10pc as part of new curbs meant to tackle the fifth wave.
Health Services Academy Vice Chancellor Dr Shahzad Ali Khan the reason behind the rapid rise in the number of cases was the highly transmissible Omicron variant.
“It seems that Omicron has adapted and has become highly infective as it can stay in the environment or air for a longer period. However, there are both positive and negative aspects of the new variant. The negative side is that whatever precautions we take, we will be infected. But those who are vaccinated will have mild symptoms and there less possibility of them spreading the virus,” he said.
“Those who are not vaccinated may develop severe complications and they could become a factory or producer of the next variant, which can be very virulent,” Dr Khan warned.
He also pointed out that Omicron had severely infected healthcare workers and suggested that they should be made to wear N-95 masks and asked to avoid socialising.
He further warned that due to its highly transmissive nature, Omicron would definitely tax all available health resources, adding that it would be essential to ensure human resource was available in hospitals and medical facilities to treat the caseload.
