Pakistan eid covid karachi
People gather to offer Eid Al Fitr prayers in Karachi, Pakistan, on Thursday, May 13, 2021. Image Credit: Bloomberg

Islamabad: Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday cautioned the people against violation of COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).

“Remember! This Eid is different as the world is still combating the pandemic,” Khan said, advising the nation to celebrate Eid responsibly and ensure strict observance of SOPs.

3,265 new cases in 24 hours

The number of COVID-19 cases went up again in Pakistan on Thursday recording 3,265 infections in the last 24 hours.

On Wednesday, for the first time in recent days the daily infection tally had dropped below 3,000.

With new cases reported, the country’s caseload has climbed to 870,703 while 126 fatalities in the last 24 hours have taken the death toll to 19,336.

As per the official data by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 39,101 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours showing 8.35 per cent positivity that was 7.42 per cent a day earlier.

Punjab set to vaccinate 300,000 people per day

The Punjab government plans to vaccinate 300,000 people daily after the Eid holidays. The province is gradually increasing its vaccination centres as well as the number of people being administered COVID-19 vaccine.

Currently, the province is giving over 100,000 vaccine jabs daily and it would increase this capacity soon after Eid holidays, said the Punjab Health Minister during a visit to a vaccination centre in Sabza Zar in Lahore. She said presently, 236 centres in Punjab and 7 in Lahore were functional.

Punjab has also started vaccination of people over 40 years of age.

Islamabad sees downward trend

With complete enforcement of lockdown announced by the NCOC, during May 8-16 Eid holidays, Islamabad continues to see significant decline in new cases of COVID-19.

According to the NCOC, the federal capital on Thursday reported 165 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

Four people lost their lives to coronavirus taking the number of overall deaths to 722.

The federal capital’s tally of cases has jumped to 78,725.