Lahore/Quetta/Karachi/Peshawar (Staff Report/Agencies): The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 956,392 on Tuesday after 735 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.
Overall 336,507 cases were confirmed in Sindh, 346,036 in Punjab, 137,831 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 27,083 in Balochistan, 82,619 in Islamabad, 6,060 in Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and 20,256 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
As per National Command and Operation (NCOC) data, 41,133 tests were conducted while positivity ratio remained 1.78%.
According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 22,254 with 23 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.
Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 901,985 after another 784 virus recoveries were reported.
Meanwhile, the NCOC decided to further reduce restrictions imposed for limiting disease spread during the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic.
The NCOC special session was chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar co-chaired by National Coordinator Lieutenant General Hamood uz Zaman Khan in Islamabad on Monday.
The Forum decided to allow business centers to remain open till 10pm whereas essential businesses including petrol pumps, medical stores etc. would be allowed to open 24/7.
The revised guidelines would come into force from June 1.
It was announced that outdoor dining along with indoor dining with 50% sitting capacity would be allowed.
The Forum also gave permission for outdoor and indoor weddings. The outdoor wedding ceremonies were permitted to accommodate up to 400 people whereas up to 200 vaccinated people would be able to attend the indoor wedding ceremony.
The NCOC also decided to allow opening up of cinemas and shrines with strict Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) and safety protocols.
All public and private departments were allowed to call 100% staff on duty with routine working hours schedule.
The Forum also decided to allow public transport and railways with 70% passenger capacity.
It is pertinent to mention that the global coronavirus cases have reportedly surpassed 181.872 million and death toll tops 3.939 million.
