Alarm bells sounded across Pakistan as the country posted 149 coronavirus deaths and 6,127 new infections during the last 24 hours (Saturday), showed the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday morning.

The 149 fatalities from coronavirus made it the country’s highest death toll in a single day since June 29 last year while the positivity rate of infections was recorded at 8.52 percent.

As per the latest NCOC data, after the addition of 6,127 new infections, the number of positive cases in the country has now surged to 756,285. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 16,243 on Sunday after adding new 149 deaths.

Punjab remained the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. So far, 7,430 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab, 4,551 in Sindh, 2,867 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 636 in Islamabad, 433 in Azad Kashmir, 223 in Balochistan, and 103 in Gilgit Baltistan.

As many as 272,197 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 267,572 in Punjab, 105,438 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 69,556 in Islamabad, 20,822 in Balochistan, 15,524 in Azad Kashmir and 5,176 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Pakistan has so far conducted 11,144,367 coronavirus tests and 71,836 during the last 24 hours (Saturday). AS many as 659,483 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 4,446 patients are in critical condition.

Global developments
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Global deaths pass three million -
The number of people who have died from Covid-19 around the world passes three million on Saturday, according to an AFP tally, despite vaccination campaigns.

After a slight lull in March, daily death tolls have been increasing, with an average of 12,000 deaths a day last week.

- Surge in India cases -
New Delhi reports a record 24,000 coronavirus cases in one day and its leader warns of a "grim" battle ahead, as major cities go into a weekend lockdown across the country.

India now leads the world in the number of new cases and the international Red Cross says the speed at which cases are rising across South Asia is "truly frightening". 

- Thailand acts as cases soar  -
Thailand experiences a fourth consecutive day of more than 1,000 new cases, with the capital Bangkok apparently at the epicentre of a third wave

In the past 10 days, the national infection total has jumped from 29,900 to more than 40,500.

- Brazil to reopen businesses -
Sao Paulo will allow businesses and places of worship to reopen from Sunday, the government of Brazil's most populous state announced, even as the coronavirus infection rate remains high.

- Tunisia closes schools -
Tunisia announces the closure of primary and secondary schools as well as universities from Sunday, as well as banning cars and public transport, because of rising case numbers.

- Italy's entertainment workers march -
Protesters march through the streets of Rome calling for the country's theatres and concert halls to be reopened and for more support for workers in the sector.

-Canada records second case of rare blood clot-

Canadian health authorities said Saturday the country has recorded a second case of rare but serious blood clotting linked to AstraZeneca's Covid-19 vaccine, but still recommend the shot for use.

The patient, who lives in the western province of Alberta and received a version of the AstraZeneca vaccine supplied by the Serum Institute of India, "has received treatment and is recovering," Canadian health authorities wrote on Twitter.

Canada reported its first case of blood clotting associated with low platelets on Tuesday in a Quebec woman who received the same shot.

Blood clot formations linked to the AstraZeneca vaccine "remain very rare" and Canada still believes that the vaccine's benefits "outweigh the potential risks," Health Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada said.

Canada's health authorities added that they would "continue to monitor the use of all #COVID19 vaccines closely and examine and assess any new safety concerns."

With inputs from AFP.