Pakistan logs 609 coronavirus infections, three deaths

Pakistan has registered another 609 coronavirus infections and three deaths during the last 24 hours (Saturday), showed the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday morning.

As per the latest NCOC data, after the addition of three new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 30,307 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,518,692 after adding the fresh 609 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Saturday), 35,627 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 1.70 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 600.

Statistics 13 Mar 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 35,627
Positive Cases: 609
Positivity %: 1.70%
Deaths :3
Patients on Critical Care: 600

— NFRCC (@NFRCCofficial) March 13, 2022

During the last 24 hours (Saturday), as many as 494 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,470,424. As of Sunday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 17,961.

As many as 571,854 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 503,715 in Punjab, 218,070 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 134,818 in Islamabad, 35,437 in Balochistan, 43,167 in Azad Kashmir and 11,631 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 13,538 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 8,091 in Sindh, 6,300 in KP, 1,020 in Islamabad, 790 in Azad Kashmir, 377 in Balochistan and 191 in Gilgit Baltistan.

 

France offers fourth Covid jab to over-80s

France is offering a fourth dose of a coronavirus vaccine to people older than 80 who had their booster more than three months ago, the prime minister said Saturday.

Jean Castex told Le Parisian newspaper that they were nevertheless recommended to keep wearing a face mask as France relaxes its Covid-19 restrictions.

The European nation is on Monday to drop the vaccine pass, proof that someone has been triple vaccinated against the illness, which until now was required to enter public spaces such as cinemas or restaurants.

A similar pass will however be needed to go to a hospital or a retirement home in order to protect the most vulnerable.

Masks will from March 14 only be required on public transport, and no longer be necessary at work or in school.

France has recorded more than 23  million cases of Covid-19 on its soil, more than 140,000 of which were fatal.

President Emmanuel Macron is likely to point to his handling of the pandemic as he campaigns for re-election in polls next month, though Russia's war on Ukraine has largely overshadowed the campaign.

With inputs from AFP