Pakistan reports uptick in coronavirus deaths

Pakistan has reported an uptick in coronavirus fatalities despite visible signs of Covid-19 retreat in Pakistan. 

According to the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday morning, Pakistan has recorded 43 coronavirus deaths and 1,232 infections during the last 24 hours (Tuesday). The deaths were far more than reported on the previous day which were just 13.

As per the latest NCOC data, after the addition of 43 new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 30,096 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,502,641 after adding the fresh 1,232 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Tuesday), 41,744 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at to 2.95 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 1,230.

Statistics 23 Feb 22:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 41,744
Positive Cases: 1232
Positivity %: 2.95%
Deaths :43
Patients on Critical Care: 1230

— NFRCC (@NFRCCofficial) February 23, 2022

During the last 24 hours (Tuesday), as many as 3,154 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,409,515. As of Wednesday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 64,262.

Also Read: PPP senior leader, ex-interior minister Rehman Malik passes away

As many as 565,319 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 499,768 in Punjab, 215,337 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 133,988 in Islamabad, 35,294 in Balochistan, 42,754 in Azad Kashmir and 11,413 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 13,471 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 8,045 in Sindh, 6,226 in KP, 1,007 in Islamabad, 784 in Azad Kashmir, 374 in Balochistan and 189 in Gilgit Baltistan.

 

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Omicron variant not more severe -
The BA.2 variant of the Omicron coronavirus strain, which has circulated widely in countries such as Denmark, is not more severe than the original, the World Health Organization (WHO) says. 

- Queen Elizabeth II cancels engagements -
Queen Elizabeth II, 95, has cancelled her planned virtual engagements for Tuesday due to "mild cold-like" coronavirus symptoms, Buckingham Palace says.

- Compulsory testing in Hong Kong -
All Hong Kongers must undergo three rounds of compulsory coronavirus testing, chief executive Carrie Lam says, saying those who do not comply "will be held liable". 

She also confirms that mainland Chinese officials are now coordinating the response to the financial hub's worst outbreak.

- Air passenger traffic prognosis -
Passenger traffic at Dubai international airport, the world's busiest, will not recover to pre-Covid levels before 2024, its CEO tells AFP.

- More than 5.8 million dead -
Coronavirus has killed at least 5,892,084 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Tuesday.

The United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 935,991, followed by Brazil with 644,604 and India 512,344.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates the true death toll could be two to three times higher.

With inputs from AFP.