Pakistan reports less than 500 COVID-19 cases for first time since October 2020

Islamabad: The COVID-19 situation is getting better in Pakistan with every passing day and the country on Monday reported for the first time since October last year less than 500 cases reported in a period of twenty-four hours.

It was on October 18, 2020, when 440 COVID-19 cases were reported in a day.

Besides, the number of active cases of COVID-19 have also dropped significantly in the country and their number was lower than 23,000.

According to the Ministry of the National Health Services (NHS), Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity rate was 1.18 per cent on Monday as 482 new cases of COVID-19 were reported against 40,621 tests conducted during the last twenty-four hours.

The country’s single day fatalities have also seen a significant drop, seven deaths in one day.

The country’s overall toll after recent fatalities stood at 28,456 while there are 22,545 active cases, according to the NHS ministry.

The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) has allowed Moderna vaccine to be administered as first dose.

DHO Islamabad in a tweet shared the news, however, urging the people not to miss the second dose after 28 days.

“Moderna has been allowed as 1st dose till further orders. However, it is advised that citizens MUST get 2nd second dose right after 28 days, without fail,” DHO Dr Zaeem said in his social media post.

Pakistan’s vaccination drive is in full swing and according to the NCOC, during the last 24 hours, 674,000 doses of vaccine were administered.

The total number of vaccine doses (first and second) have been recorded at 104.9 million as more than 70 million have been partially and 40 million fully administered.

According to the government’s portal for tracking the spread of the disease in the country, Pakistan’s recovery rate continues to remain above 95 per cent and on Monday, the country reported 1,024 coronavirus recoveries during the last 24 hours.

The total number of recoveries has risen to 1,222,559 with a recovery rate of 96 per cent.

The federal capital meanwhile reported a steady decline in incidence of coronavirus and according to District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Zaeem Zia the coronavirus positivity was 0.9 per cent on Monday as 25 people tested positive after 2,769 tests conducted in the last twenty-four hours.

This is because of the people’s increased awareness about COVID-19, said Dr Zaeem Zia adding almost 80 per cent of the city’s eligible population has at least received one dose of COVID-19.