ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday recorded the highest single day rise in coronavirus infection numbers since June last year, reporting 5,329 new cases and 98 deaths in the past 24 hours, a government portal said.
Around 3,942 COVID-19 patients are in critical condition, government figures showed, the highest number since the pandemic started last year. Pakistan’s tally of coronavirus cases has now reached 705,517, with 15,124 deaths since last February.
“During last 24 hours most death occurred in Punjab followed by KP [Khyber Pakhtunkhwa,” the government announced. “Out of 98 deaths during last 24 hours 31 died on ventilators.”
Meanwhile, the health minister of Pakistan’s most populous Punjab province, Dr. Yasmin Rashid, said Punjab would soon, after cabinet approval, purchase one million doses of the COVID-19 vaccine.
“Local preparation of vaccine may take 6 to 10 months’ time,” Rashid was quoted by local media as saying.
Pakistan is currently offering free vaccines to frontline health care workers and people over the age of 50, but the drive has thus far been slow, and last month the country allowed commercial imports by the private sector for the general public.
The first round saw the commercial sale of the two-shot Russian Sputnik V to the general public for about 12,000 Pakistani rupees ($80) for a pack of two doses.
Pakistan records highest single day rise in COVID-19 cases since June
Short Url
https://arab.news/5u5wv
Pakistan records highest single day rise in COVID-19 cases since June
- Around 3,942 COVID-19 patients are in critical condition, the highest number since pandemic started last year
- Pakistan’s tally of coronavirus cases has reached 705,517, with 15,124 deaths since last February
