Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,285,254 on Wednesday after 414 new cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.
Overall 475,820 cases were confirmed in Sindh, 443,185 in Punjab, 180,075 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 33,479 in Balochistan, 107,722 in Islamabad, 10,412 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 34,556 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 42,381 tests were conducted in last 24 hours while positivity ratio remained 0.97%.
According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 28,737 with 9 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 1,242,354 after another 118 virus recoveries were reported.
Meanwhile, the NCOC has approved the administration of COVID-19 vaccine's booster jab for people grouped into three categories amid the threats of an outbreak of Omicron, a new variant of the virus.
A meeting of the NCOC, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who also heads the forum, announced to have launched a special vaccination drive in the country from December 1 (today).
As per the decision, healthcare workers, individuals above the age of 50 and those having a weak immune system will be inoculated with the booster shots during the special drive.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 263.109 million and death toll tops 5,234,511.
