Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 971,304 on Saturday after 1,828 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.
Overall 345,269 cases were confirmed in Sindh, 347,793 in Punjab, 139,162 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27,863 in Balochistan, 83,513 in Islamabad, 6,769 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 20,935 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 48,134 tests were conducted in last 24 hours while positivity ratio remained 3.79%.
According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 22,555 with 35 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 912,295 after another 912 virus recoveries were reported.
Meanwhile, the NCOC on Friday warned of 'extremely dangerous' Delta variant and stressed on the vaccination of workers by July 31.
In a statement, the forum said that Delta variant cases have emerged in Pakistan and there is a possibility that these would lead to a fourth COVID-19 wave.
The NCOC said the “dangerous” Delta variant had not only caused thousands of deaths in India but also left people suffering helplessly due to a lack of oxygen in hospitals.
The forum emphasised on strict implementation of the current standard operating procedures (SOPs) from July 9 to July 18 in an effort to stem the spread of the virus, saying “if effective measures are not taken to contain Delta variant of the Covid-19, its consequences could be disastrous.”
The NCOC has made it mandatory for students over the age of 18 to be vaccinated by August 31, while domestic air travel without a vaccination certificate will be banned from August 1.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 186.856 million and death toll tops 4,035,474.
