Day: July 23, 2021

Pakistan’s coronavirus tally has on Friday surpassed the severe milestone of 1 million after the country recorded 1,425 cases during the last 24 hours, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced.

According to the NCOC, 25,215 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and the positivity rate was under 6%. The current positivity ratio stands at 5.65% and the total number of Coronavirus cases are 1,000,034.

The NCOC reported the grim milestone exactly one month after Pakistan’s tally of positive cases exceeded 900,000.

Pakistan’s death toll from the coronavirus now stands 22,939 after 11 people lost their lives to the disease recently.

While the number of recovered patients stands at 923,472 and the active cases of the country are 53,623.

Delta Variant Growing Across Karachi

On the other hand, virologists claimed that the Delta variant of the coronavirus now accounts for 92% of the new cases in Karachi and is the leading cause of the increasing number of positivity and hospitalization in the city.

“Our experts at the National Institute of Virology at the University of Karachi analysed 90 Covid samples on July 14 and 15, and of them, 83 or over 92%, were of the Delta variant. This is an extremely alarming situation,” said the director of KU’s International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences.

He said that since the Delta variant is highly transmissible and infects a large number of people, more people will require hospitalisation, and the pressure on health care facilities will increase further.

Delta Variant Casts Shadow Over Pakistan, Dr Faisal

Earlier, Special Health Assistant Dr Faisal Sultan had warned that a new and dangerous type of coronavirus, the Delta (Indian) variant, is emerging in the country following the fourth wave.

He had said that in view of the increasing number of coronavirus cases in the country, it is important to follow SOPs to avoid other strains, including Delta.

Dr Faisal pointed out the possibility of imposing smart lockdown and said that there would be a need to restrict movement.

He further said that only those who have completed vaccination should visit tourist areas.

Dr Faisal had said that the NCOC and the Ministry of Health also have a position to avoid tourism with incomplete vaccinations.

He said the restrictions would be strictly enforced during the Eid holidays.

Dr Faisal Sultan dismissed concerns about the shortage of vaccines, saying, “We have an abundance of vaccines.”

“Apart from the use of masks and SOPs, vaccination is important which should not be ignored under any circumstances as cases are on the rise and we will re-impose smart lockdown,” he said.

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