Covid-19 cases in Pakistan cross “One Million” mark

F.P. Report

ISLAMABAD: There was a significant plunge in the number of coronavirus deaths and infections throughout Pakistan during the last 24 hours but the caseload has now crossed the grim mark of one million, on Friday.

Another 11 people died and 1,425 more were infected by the coronavirus during the last 24 hours (Thursday) across the country, showed the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday morning.

As per the latest NCOC figures, with the addition of 11 new deaths the toll has now soared to 22,939 whereas the total number of cases has now reached over one million – 1,000,034 after adding 1,425 new ones.

During the past 24 hours (Thursday), as many as 543 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 923,472. As of Friday, the total count of active cases was recorded at 53,623 whereas the positivity ratio was recorded at 5.65 percent.

As many as 362,182 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 351,707 in Punjab, 141,359 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 85,230 in Islamabad, 29,357 in Balochistan, 22,592 in Azad Kashmir and 7,607 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Moreover, 10,909 individuals have so far lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab, 5,785 in Sindh, 4,405 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 789 in Islamabad, 608 in Azad Kashmir, 321 in Balochistan and 122 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Global Developments

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

– Origins probe row –

China’s opposition to a World Health Organization probe into the origins of the Covid-19 pandemic is “irresponsible” and “dangerous,” the White House says, after Beijing strongly criticises a WHO request to audit labs in areas where the first cases were identified.

– Half of EU adults jabbed –

The European Union says that 200 million Europeans have been fully vaccinated, more than half of its adult population, but still short of a 70 percent target set for the summer.

– Economic ‘shadow’ –

European Central Bank chief Christine Lagarde warns of growing economic “uncertainty” caused by the fast-spreading Delta variant of the coronavirus, as the bank pledges to keep support for the eurozone in place for longer.

– India denies millions dead –

The Indian government rejects recent studies suggesting that millions have died from Covid-19, several times the official toll, but says several states are now “reconciling” their data after a spike in cases in April and May.

– Israeli green pass –

Israel’s coronavirus task force recommends partially re-instating the green pass programme, restricting access to certain events to vaccinated people, a decision likely to be approved by Prime Minister Nafatali Bennett’s government on Sunday.

– Mental health impact –

The mental health impact of the pandemic will be “long-term and far-reaching”, the WHO says, as experts and leaders call for action on Covid-linked anxiety and stress.

– Sputnik V complaint –

Argentina has complained to Russia about delays in delivering second doses of its Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in a letter warning of breach of contract repercussions, the government in Buenos Aires says.

– Czech Olympic ‘scandal’ –

Czech Prime Minister Andrej Babis speaks of “a scandal” as six athletes and officials on the Olympic team on the same flight to Tokyo test positive for coronavirus.

– Rugby League tournament rocked –

Australia and New Zealand decide to pull out of the 2021 Rugby League World Cup over Covid-19 concerns, with the top two ranked nations citing “player welfare and safety” during the pandemic as compelling reasons to delay the event until next year.

– Four million dead –

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,128,543 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 609,862 deaths, followed by Brazil with 545,604, India with 418,987, Mexico with 237,207 and Peru with 195,429 fatalities.

The WHO says up to three times the number suggested by official figures have died directly or indirectly as a result of the pandemic.

With inputs from AFP.