Islamabad: The positivity rate of COVID-19 is increasing steadily in Pakistan. According to the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) the number of active COVID-19 cases is up by 50 per cent over the last three weeks. Another 2,351 people were reported to have tested positive in the last 24 hours.
The national positivity ratio has been recorded at 6.6 per cent on Wednesday while a day earlier it was 5.7 per cent.
With the addition of 2,351 new cases, Pakistan’s tally of coronavirus cases has surged to 612,315, while 61 deaths in 24 hours have taken the toll caused by COVID-19 to 13,656.
The country’s total recoveries stand at 575,867.
Increase in cases attributed to ease in restrictions
The number of COVID-19 cases started increasing after the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) had on Feb 24 decided to ease some restrictions on commercial activities, schools, offices and workplaces, allowing them to function at full strength.
However, with no let-up in COVID-19 cases, the NCOC re-imposed the restrictions on March 10.
The NCOC also announced a two-week spring vacation in educational institutions in 10 cities (March 15-28), whereas Balochistan and Sindh were asked to limit attendance to 50 per cent.
Highest single-day vaccinations
With increase in new cases, vaccination is also picking up pace, according to the (NCOC). Minister for Planning, Development & Special Initiative Asad Umar in a tweet revealed that a milestone was achieved on March 16 when it hit the highest daily number of vaccinations - 41,000. Of these 28,424 were senior citizens. The minister urged all those above 70 years to get registered and vaccinated,
https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1372076073509392389
100-year-old gets vaccinated
In Karachi, a 100-year old citizen named Israel Ahmed Meenai received the first jab of Sinopharm vaccine. A resident of the Defence Housing Society, Israel Meenai was brought to the Aga Khan Adult Vaccination Centre in a wheelchair.
After receiving the jab, Israel urged other elderly people to register themselves and get vaccinated. “Despite aging, a healthy life should always be cherished,” said Israel.
A day earlier, Adviser to the Prime Minister on Commerce Abdul Razak Dawood received the first dose of COVID-19 vaccine at Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
