Pakistan reports mild decline in coronavirus cases

Reporting a mild decline in Covid-19 cases as compared to the previous day, Pakistan has reported another 502 coronavirus infections and one death during the last 24 hours (Saturday), showed the statistics released by the National Institute of Health Pakistan on Sunday morning.

As per the NIH data, the death toll in Pakistan now increased to 30,421 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,542,879 after adding the fresh 502 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Saturday), 18,385 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 2.73 percent. The number of patients in critical care was recorded at 145.

COVID-19 Statistics 10 July 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 18,385
Positive Cases: 502
Positivity %: 2.73%
Deaths: 01
Patients on Critical Care: 145

— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) July 10, 2022

Most of the 502 new cases were reported from Mardan where the positivity ratio stood at 10 percent.

The infectivity ratio in Islamabad was recorded at 5.48 percent, Karachi 4.69 percent, Lahore 3.57 percent, Peshawar 1.80 percent and Rawalpindi 1.03 percent.

#Covid_19 #COVIDprevention #COVID19 awareness pic.twitter.com/luPO0HWb7F

— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) July 10, 2022

India logs 18,257 fresh Covid-19 cases, 42 deaths

Registering a slight drop in Covid-19 cases, India on Sunday reported 18,257 fresh cases, according to updated data by Health Ministry. The country reported 14,553 recoveries and 42 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry data revealed. The active cases in the country stands at 1,28,690 on Sunday, with the daily positivity rate at 4.22%, the Health Ministry updated data noted.
Meanwhile, on Saturday, India's Covid-19 case tally rose by 18,840 in a day to reach 4,36,04,394 while the number of active cases increased to 1,25,028, according to Health Ministry data. The death toll has climbed to 5,25,386 with 43 more people succumbing to the viral disease and the active caseload increased by 2,693, comprising 0.29 percent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.51 percent, the ministry said.

The daily positivity rate was 4.14 percent while the weekly positivity rate was recorded at 4.09 percent, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,29,53,980, while the case fatality rate was 1.20 percent. According to the ministry, 198.65 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered in the country so far.

On July 6, a Ministry of Health and Family Welfare release said that India's cumulative Covid-19 vaccination coverage exceeded 198.20 crores with 1,98,20,86,763 vaccine doses administered so far under the nationwide vaccination drive.

Australians over 70 granted access to Covid antiviral treatments

All Australians over 70 years of age with Covid will be eligible to take antivirals from Monday, after the health minister, Mark Butler, expanded access to the treatments.

Butler revealed that access will also be expanded to people aged over 50 with two or more risk factors for severe disease and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people aged over 30 with two or more risk factors.

In an interview with ABC Insiders, the health minister flagged increased usage of antivirals but reinforced the government is not in favour of broad-based mask mandates, requiring people to take vaccine boosters or restoring pandemic leave payments.

After two years of low Covid rates due to highly restrictive border policies and lockdowns, Australia is experiencing a surge of cases and a rising death rate, with more than 10,200 deaths since the start of the pandemic.
Since its election in May, the Albanese government has expanded public messaging campaigns for vaccine boosters and expanded eligibility for fourth doses.

Health authorities have also revised down their advice on reinfection periods from 12 weeks to 28 days, warning the new variants are associated with increased immune escape and we are likely to see rates of reinfection rise.

Butler said “Covid cases and hospitalisation numbers are climbing, particularly with the new variants”.

“The former Morrison government bought hundreds of thousands of doses of these medicines that have been sitting on a shelf instead of being used to help people who are at risk of severe illness,” Butler said in a statement.

“I’m pleased this will change, with millions more people now eligible for these treatments.

“Two antivirals are on the PBS, meaning these remarkable treatments that normally cost more than $1,000 will only be $6.80 for a concession card holder, and around $40 for everyone else.”

More than 73,000 Australians have already benefited from antiviral medicines, tablets or capsules, that can help stop Covid-19 infection from becoming severe if detected early and prescribed by a doctor.