F.P. Report
ISLAMABAD: The fourth wave of coronavirus pandemic shows no signs of subsiding as another 102 people breathed their last and 4,934 were infected throughout Pakistan during the last 24 hours (Wednesday), showed the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Thursday morning.
As per the NCOC figures, after the addition of 102 new deaths the overall toll has now surged to 24,187 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,085,294 after adding the fresh 4,934 cases.
During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), a total of 59,397 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 8.30 percent.
During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), as many as 3,376 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 975,474. As of Thursday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 85,633.
As many as 406,109 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 368,195 in Punjab, 150,026 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 92,233 in Islamabad, 31,341 in Balochistan, 28,347 in Azad Kashmir and 9,043 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
Moreover, 11,292 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 6,316 in Sindh, 4,604 in KP, 824 in Islamabad, 658 in Azad Kashmir, 332 in Balochistan and 161 in Gilgit Baltistan.
Global Developments
Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:
– Human trials for Spain vaccine –
Spain’s medicines agency approves a first round of clinical trials on humans for a Covid-19 vaccine developed by Spanish firm Hipra.
– Thai crackdown on virus protest –
Thai police fire water cannon, rubber bullets and tear gas at protesters in Bangkok for a second day as demonstrators rally against the government and its handling of the coronavirus crisis.
– France tries to protect vaccine centres –
The French government urges better protection of vaccine centres after around two dozen acts of vandalism were recorded against Covid-19 related facilities over the last month alone.
– Melbourne extends lockdown –
Five million people in Australia’s second-largest city must stay at home for at least another week as authorities extend a tough lockdown after failing to curb the latest outbreak.
– Get shots or else –
Kenya tells its civil servants to get vaccinated by late August or risk disciplinary action.
– Iran’s fifth wave –
Iran’s supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei admits the country needs to act urgently to stem a fifth wave there caused by the highly infectious Delta variant.
The Islamic Republic has recorded 95,600 virus deaths although the authorities admit the real toll is higher.
– Facebook hits Russian anti-vaxxers –
The US social network says it has shut down a Russian disinformation operation which sought to spread vaccine hoaxes by duping influencers on Facebook and Instagram into backing false claims.
– China tries mixing jabs –
China is trying its first mixed-vaccine trial, seeing how its Sinovac shot will work with a DNA-based one developed by US company Inovio.
– ‘Cruel proof’ –
French President Emmanuel Macron says escalating infections in France’s Caribbean islands, where vaccine take-up remain low, is “cruel proof” of the need for jabs.
– Possible treatments –
The World Health Organization announces major trials of three drugs — artesunate, imatinib and infliximab — in 52 countries to see if they can help seriously ill Covid-19 patients.
– Mainz’s ‘acute outbreak’ –
Days before the Bundesliga season is due to start, Mainz cancel training after an “acute outbreak” at the German football club puts 14 players or members of staff in quarantine.
– Quebec pass –
Canadians wanting to eat at a restaurant, go to a bar or gym, or attend a festival in Quebec will have to present a vaccine passport from September 1.
– ‘Uncaring’ quarantine –
A group of Australian Olympic athletes are facing 28 days in quarantine on return from Tokyo in a move slammed as “cruel” and “uncaring” as concerns mount over their mental wellbeing.
– 4.3 million dead –
The coronavirus pandemic has killed at least 4,314,196 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.
The US is the worst-affected country with 618,137 deaths, followed by Brazil with 564,773, India with 429,179, Mexico with 245,476 and Peru with 197,102.
