ISLAMABAD - Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Services (NHS) Dr Faisal Sultan, in a weekly round up on COVID-19 pandemic situation, on Saturday said that COVID-19 national positivity ratio continued to fall steadily and average stood at 4 percent.
The Ministry of NHS, in a statement, quoted Dr. Faisal Sultan as saying that 47,000 to 55,000 tests were conducted per day this week and the national positivity ratio continued to fall steadily this week - the average stood at less than 4%.
He said, “This is evidence that the government’s lockdown and enforcement of SOPs, along with greater vaccine uptake and administration has had an impact on the spread of the disease.”
Dr. Faisal said that our fellow countrymen in Sindh, however, were under pressure as the 3rd wave in Sindh began a bit later than it did in the rest of the federating units and positivity ratio in Sindh hovered between 6% and 7%.
He said that national compliance of SOPs stood at 46% which was the average across all provinces and sectors. “SOPs compliance of major sectors was as transport 40%, businesses 40.28%, industry 38%, Masajid/Imambargahs 41%, airport/Bus Stands/Railway Stations 50%, public places 42% and hospitals 70%.”
He said that almost 2.2 million people had been fully vaccinated as of 4th of June. He said 3.7 million people had received at least one dose as of 4th of June while in total almost 8 million doses had been administered. “This means that Pakistan is among the top 30 countries in the world in terms of doses administered. We have administered more vaccine doses than countries such as Australia, Switzerland, Portugal and Belgium and daily administration has ranged from 3 lac to 4 lac,” said.
Dr. Faisl said that almost 100,000 doses of Pfizer arrived via COVAX last week, Pfizer is an American COVID-19 vaccine brand approved for use by the World Health Organisation.
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has granted the emergency use approval to Pfizer and NCOC has decided that for now (because we have a small number of doses), the Pfizer vaccine will be administered to those travelling abroad for Hajj or education in countries where other it is compulsory for travellers to show a vaccination certificate upon entry and the country accepts Pfizer
In addition, one million Sinopharm doses purchased by the government have also arrived. He said 11.8 million vaccine doses had arrived in Pakistan so far and 76% was purchased by the government of Pakistan.
84 more Covid deaths, 1923 new cases reported
Eighty-four more deaths and 1,923 new positive cases were reported due to coronavirus in the country during the last 24 hours.
According to the latest statistics shared by National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 50,393 tests were carried out during this period showing a positivity ratio of 3.81 percent.
According to the NCOC, the death toll due to the pandemic has now reached 21,189.
Meanwhile, Pakistan’s coronavirus recoveries have crossed 860,000, Another 4,380 people recovered from the coronavirus during the past 24 hours, taking the country’s total to 860,385. Meanwhile, 3,452 virus patients are in critical condition in the country.
During the past 24 hours, Islamabad, GB and AJK collectively reported 160 cases and one more fatality. Islamabad reported 86 cases, GB 6 cases and AJK reported 68 such cases. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa recorded 326 coronavirus cases and 10 fatalities during the last 24 hours. The province’s caseload has increased to 134,072 and the death toll has risen to 4,135.
Meanwhile, Balochistan reported 113 Covid-19 cases, which has lifted the province’s infection tally to 25,589. With no coronavirus death reported in the province over the past 24 hours, the death toll stands at 287. Punjab reported 399 Covid cases and 57 deaths over the last 24 hours. The province’s infection tally has risen to 341,789 and the death toll stands at 10,241.
Meanwhile, a special plane of PIA carrying one million doses of Sinopharm vaccine has reached Islamabad, according to the NCOC. In a statement, the NCOC said Pakistan will be receiving a total of 11 million doses of Sinopharm, Sinovac and Cansino vaccines this month.
According to the NCOC, steps are being taken to ensure uninterrupted supply of Covid-19 vaccine in the country and the vaccination capacity is being ramped up.