New Pakistan coronavirus cases hit highest level since January after measures eased

A man wearing a face mask as a preventive measure against the COVID-19 shops at the Raja Bazar in Rawalpindi, Pakistan, on July 22, 2020. (AFP/File)

• Pakistan reported 2,258 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily tally since January 29
• Authorities on Wednesday reversed decision to allow indoor dining, gatherings at cinemas and marriage halls and temporarily shut schools

ISLAMABAD: The daily number of new coronavirus cases in Pakistan rose on Thursday to the highest level since late January, health ministry data showed, about two weeks after the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan announced an easing of measures to curb the pandemic.
Pakistan reported 2,258 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, the highest daily tally since January 29, a government portal showed. The total number of infections rose to 597,497, with 13,377deaths. 
Last month, Pakistan announced opening up almost all sectors of society, including lifting time limits on commercial activities, allowing indoor dining at restaurants from March 15 and restarting regular five-day classes at schools from March 1. 
But on Wednesday, the government reversed a decision to allow large indoor gatherings like cinemas, theaters and marriage halls. Schools would also be closed again for two weeks from March 15 in major cities in the country.
Pakistan on Wednesday also launched a COVID-19 vaccination for the general public, starting with older people, as it grapples with a high degree of vaccination hesitancy among its 220 million people, even among health workers.
Pakistan has so far not secured any supplies from vaccine manufacturers and is largely depending on the GAVI/WHO COVAX initiative for poorer nations and donations from old ally China.