Corona deaths take a plunge while infections skyrocket in Pakistan

The number of infections from coronavirus amid Omicron variant spread is inching up with every passing day in Pakistan though the fatalities from Covid-19 are insignificant.

According to the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday morning, there were 1,345 new infections and only one death from the coronavirus in the country during the last 24 hours (Friday).

The latest figures released by the NCOC suggested that after the addition of one new death, the overall toll has now surged to 28,962 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,302,486 after adding the fresh 1,345 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Friday), 46,537 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio also built up to 2.89 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 629.

Statistics 8 Jan 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 46,537
Positive Cases: 1345
Positivity %: 2.89%
Deaths :1
Patients on Critical Care: 629

— NFRCC (@NFRCCofficial) January 8, 2022

During the last 24 hours (Friday), as many as 246 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,258,332. As of Saturday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 15,192.

As many as 485,782 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 447,082 in Punjab, 181,673 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 109,167 in Islamabad, 33,657 in Balochistan, 34,696 in Azad Kashmir and 10,429 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 13,077 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 7,678 in Sindh, 5,941 in KP, 967 in Islamabad, 747 in Azad Kashmir, 366 in Balochistan and 186 in Gilgit Baltistan.

 

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Covid cases top 300 million -
The total number of Covid-19 cases registered worldwide since the start of the pandemic tops 300 million, according to an AFP count based on official figures.

- Supreme Court battle -
The US Supreme Court hears challenges to Covid vaccination mandates imposed by the Biden administration on millions of American workers.

- Djokovic thanks fans -
Tennis world number one Novak Djokovic thanks people "around the world" for their support since he was dramatically refused entry to Australia over his Covid-19 vaccine status.

- Hong Kong party -
Dozens of senior Hong Kong officials and lawmakers are ordered into quarantine after health officials discover a second preliminary coronavirus case at a birthday party attended by many of the city's political elite.

- German bars, restaurants - 
Germany will limit access to bars and restaurants to people who are fully vaccinated or recovered and can also provide a negative test, Chancellor Olaf Scholz says.

- India festival -
An Indian court rejects a bid to cancel a major Hindu festival, the annual Gangasagar Mela, despite fears the vast gathering could spread coronavirus infections.

- Austrian Chancellor positive -
Austria's head of government Karl Nehammer tests positive for Covid-19, the chancellery announces, saying the fully vaccinated leader has not experienced any symptoms.

- US job figures -
The US economy added only 199,000 jobs in December but the unemployment rate fell to 3.9 percent, a mixed ending to a year spent recovering from the mass pandemic layoffs.

- India ups growth -
India raises its financial year growth estimates to 9.2 percent despite a surge in coronavirus infections threatening the country's recovery.

- More than 5.4 million dead -
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,470,916 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Friday.

The US has recorded the most Covid deaths with 833,989, followed by Brazil with 619,641, India 483,178 and Russia 314,604.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.

With inputs from AFP.