Coronavirus single-day fatalities drop to 30 in Pakistan

Pakistan registered a drop in the number of single-day coronavirus fatalities as the country recorded 30 more deaths as compared to 72 a day earlier.

Pakistan has also has reported 3,301 infections during the last 24 hours (Tuesday) as the number of total positive cases has now surged to 637,042. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 13,965, showed the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday morning.

As per the NCOC data, Sindh as usual remained the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

So far 263,664 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 202,743 in Punjab, 81,204 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 53,136 in Islamabad, 19,374 in Balochistan, 11,946 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 4,975 in Gilgit Baltistan.

As many as 6,048 individuals have lost their lives to the Covid-19 in Punjab 4,482 in Sindh, 2,238 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 552 in Islamabad, 339 in Azad Kashmir, 203 in Balochistan and 103 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Pakistan has so far conducted 9,895,515 coronavirus tests and 38,282 during the last 24 hours (Tuesday). As many as 586,228 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,564 patients were in critical condition.

Brazil's one-day deaths  surpass 3,000

Brazil's daily Covid-19 death toll soared past 3,000 for the first time Tuesday as the hard-hit country struggled to contain a surge of cases that has pushed many hospitals to breaking point.

The health ministry registered a record 3,251 deaths in the past 24 hours, bringing Brazil's overall death toll to nearly 299,000 -- second only to the United States.

The latest bleak milestone came on the same day President Jair Bolsonaro installed his fourth health minister of the pandemic, facing pressure to change tack after downplaying the virus and flouting expert advice on containing it.

Global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- AstraZeneca stumbles again -

AstraZeneca is hit by another snag after a US government agency says the Anglo-Swedish company may have included out-of-date data in results of US trials for its vaccine announced on Monday.

The company says it will release more data "within 48 hours".

- Britain reflects -

Britain marks the anniversary of its first lockdown with a minute's silence in tribute to the more than 126,000 people who have died.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson warns that Britain needs to stay on its guard, as a third wave now sweeps across Europe, and calls for reflection on the losses of the past year.

- Lockdowns fuel oil slump -

Oil prices slump on lower demand prospects after Germany announces a strict shutdown for five days over Easter and as EU nations struggle to roll out vaccines.

- Spain allows in Brits -

Spain will on March 30 lift restrictions on arrivals from Britain that have been in place since December to prevent the spread of new coronavirus strains.

Restrictions on arrivals from Brazil and South Africa will be extended until April 13.

- Get jabbing -

France should be vaccinating "morning, noon and evening" says President Emmanuel Macron, who faces criticism that the country's inoculation drive has been too slow.

A government minister says the country will open 35 mass vaccination centres "in the coming days". 

- Banksy for NHS -

A painting by the British street artist Banksy sells for a record £16.75 million ($23.1 million, 19.4 million euros) with proceeds going to benefit state health service staff.

The signed oil painting by the elusive artist,  "Game Changer", first appeared at Southampton General Hospital on England's south coast, during the first wave of the global coronavirus crisis in May last year.

- Putin vaccinated - 

Russian President Vladimir Putin receives his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine, his spokesman Dmitry Peskov says, without specifying which jab was administered. 

- Oxygen running out -

Oxygen supplies for respirators for seriously ill Covid patients have fallen to "worrying" levels in six Brazilian states, where cases are surging, according to the public prosecutor's office.

- Belgium lockdown imminent -

Belgium appears headed for a new lockdown to stem a variant-fuelled surge in infections, according to reports on the eve of an emergency government meeting.

- Netherlands extends curbs -

The Netherlands government extends its coronavirus restrictions until April 20, but will shorten its controversial nighttime curfew by one hour.

- Vietnam approves Russian jab -

Vietnam approves Russia's Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine, two weeks after it kicked off its inoculation campaign.

- Norway tightens up -

Norway will temporarily ban the sale of alcohol in bars and restaurants, and oblige travellers coming from abroad to quarantine in a hotel to battle a rise in cases.

- 2.7 million dead -

At least 2,723,899 people have died of coronavirus around the world since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally from official sources. 

The US is the worst-affected country with 542,949 deaths, followed by Brazil with 295,425, Mexico with 198,239, India with 160,166 and Britain with 126,172.

With inputs from AFP.