ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the Pakistani federal government’s central body dealing with the coronavirus pandemic, said on Tuesday the coronavirus positivity rate had crossed 40 percent in the northern city of Abbottabad.
Pakistan recorded 1,704 new coronavirus cases countrywide and 82 deaths over the last 24 hours as a second wave of the epidemic has gathered momentum, data released on Tuesday showed.
“Highest positivity ratio observed in Abbottabad 40.32% followed by Hyderabad 22.12% and Karachi 12.54%,” NCOC data said. “2,398 Covid patients are in critical condition across Pakistan and the number of critical patients is rising fast.”
After a peak of over 6,800 daily infections in June, the number fell to a low of 213 in August, and remained below 700 for most of the last three months. But last month, the government announced that a second wave of the coronavirus had arrived, putting in place new guidelines, including mandatory face masks in public places and banning indoor dining at restaurants. Schools across the country have also been shut down, or have switched to online classes, until mid-January.
Earlier this month, the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out a complete lockdown and decided to continue its smart lockdown policy with strict implementation of safety rules given by the NCOC. Khan has repeatedly said Pakistan’s economy cannot afford a complete lockdown and citizens would have to “live with” strict health guidelines.
The country’s last comprehensive lockdown was lifted in May.
