Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 976,867 on Tuesday after 1,590 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.
Overall 347,478 cases were confirmed in Sindh, 348,309 in Punjab, 139,463 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27,994 in Balochistan, 83,764 in Islamabad, 6,904 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 21,180 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data, 43,790 tests were conducted in last 24 hours while positivity ratio remained 3.63%.
According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 22,618 with 21 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 914,605 after another 732 virus recoveries were reported.
Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, said on Tuesday that Pakistan has crossed half a million daily vaccination doses' mark for first time.
"For the first time we crossed half a million doses of vaccination yesterday. 5 lakh 25 thousand doses were administered yesterday. Highest ever first dose was also achieved yesterday with 3 lakh 90 thousand first doses administered. The pace will increase further inshallah," the minister tweeted.
Earlier on Monday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said that only vaccinated people will be allowed to visit tourist resorts during Eid holidays.
Speaking to newsmen in Islamabad, the SAPM said that the positivity rate of Coronavirus cases has increased from 2% to 4%, during the last few days which is alarming.
He said the main cause of this surge is violation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and the new variant of coronavirus coming from India.
Dr Faisal appealed the public to follow the SOPs to contain spread of the pandemic.
The SAPM said that efforts will be made to implement SOPs with the help of the administration and the army.
He further maintained that there is no shortage of vaccination jabs in Pakistan.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 188.088 million and death toll tops 4,055,968.
