Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 1,071,620 on Monday after 4,720 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.
Overall 400,400 cases were confirmed in Sindh, 364,680 in Punjab, 148,619 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 31,177 in Balochistan, 90,660 in Islamabad, 8,796 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 27,288 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 53,528 tests were conducted in last 24 hours while positivity ratio remained 7.54%.
According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 23,918 with 53 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 964,404 after another 2,765 virus recoveries were reported.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government has relaxed the Covid-19 restrictions put in place to prevent the spread of coronavirus amid the fourth wave of the pandemic fuelled by the more contagious Delta variant of the virus.
A notification issued on Sunday by the provincial home department said that markets and business activities can continue till 8pm instead of 6pm.
It said that the ban on indoor dining would continue however, outdoor dining will be allowed under strict Covid-19 protocol till 10pm. "Take away and home delivery are allowed 24/7," it added.
The notification said that the closure of shrines and cinemas would continue in the province whereas the ban on contact sports would also be maintained.
It said that the routine work would continue in public and private sector offices. However, attendance would be reduced from 100 per cent to 50 per cent.
Moreover, the Punjab government on Monday has imposed smart lockdown in selective districts to control the fourth outbreak of COVID-19.
According to details, permission to hold outdoor marriages with 300 guests and implementation on standard operating procedures (SOPs) has been allowed. All the indoor events including religious and cultural have been banned.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 203.461 million and death toll tops 4,307,542.
