1,095 new COVID-19 cases, 56 deaths reported in Afghanistan

KABUL (Tolo News): The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,095 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 3,840 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry also reported 56 deaths and 300 recoveries from COVID-19 in the same period.
The deaths were reported in Kabul (27), Balkh (2), Kandahar (1), Takhar (1), Kunduz (2), Faryab (3), Helmand (2), Paktia (2), Nimroz (2), Kapisa (1), Ghazni (2), Panjshir (3), Daikundi (1), Zabul (1), Ghor (1), Khost (1) and Samangan (1) provinces. The new cases were reported in Kabul (166), Herat (4), Kandahar (30), Balkh (43), Nangarhar (36), Takhar (57), Faryab (68), Maidan Wardak (36), Parwan (28), Helmand (28), Bamiyan (128), Badakhshan (58), Kapisa (35), Logar (22), Laghman (61), Daikundi (17), Zabul (44), Ghor (61), Farah (67), Sar-e-Pul (4), Nuristan (4) and Samangan (44) provinces.
So far Afghanistan has recorded 114,220 cases of COVID-19, 4,650 deaths and 67,483 recoveries, according to data provided by the Ministry of Public Health. The data shows that so far, 592,610 samples have been tested for COVID-19 and there are 41,442 active cases of the virus in the country. According to the ministry, the COVID-19 positivity rate in the county is 33%. Figures by Johns Hopkins University show that the number of deaths from COVID-19 globally is more than 3,910,311 and the number of known global coronavirus cases is 180,447,976.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Public Health said Saturday that the Delta variant makes 50% of COVID-19 infections in the country and it is one of the major reasons behind the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Afghanistan. Afghanistan has achieved the capacity to recognize COVID-19 variants, including Delta, the acting minister of public health, Waheed Majroh, said at a press briefing in Kabul.
As an example, he said, out of 19 samples tested in government laboratories, 11 were the Delta variant, while 8 others were the British variant. Majroh said the spread of COVID-19 infections has reduced by 1% compared to the last week but added that it does not mean that the virus has stopped its expansion.
He said that the extension in the closure of schools has been aimed at preventing the further spread of the virus, calling on the people to avoid attending gatherings. Lack of oxygen has been a major issue for COVID-19 treatment centers in the country, particularly in Kabul. Majroh said that oxygen machines have been installed in seven provinces and that 10 more will get this equipment in near future.
Majroh added that the three million doses of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine provided by the United States will arrive in the country in the first week of July. The Ministry of Public Health on Saturday reported 1,095 new positive cases of COVID-19 out of 3,840 samples tested in the last 24 hours. The ministry also reported 56 deaths and 300 recoveries from COVID-19 in the same period.