ISLAMABAD - Pakistan on Wednesday morning reported 2,869 fresh coronavirus cases suggesting that the cases are on the decline.

This is the first time since March 16 the country has reported less than 3,000 coronavirus cases, when 2,351 cases were reported.

According to the officials, 38,616 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours after which 2,869 people tested positive. 

The total number of cases in the country is 867,438 and the death toll is 19,210.

The positivity ratio of Covid-19 cases in the country is 7.42 per cent.

According to details, Pakistan reported 2,869 new coronavirus cases and 104 deaths during the past 24 hours.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 76,536. Meanwhile, 5,200 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking total recoveries to 771,692.

During the past 24 hours, Punjab reported 1,266 cases and 63 deaths, Sindh 813 cases and 12 deaths, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 413 cases and 24 deaths, Islamabad 178 cases and 2 deaths, Balochistan 121 cases and 2 deaths, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 72 cases and 1 death while Gilgit-Baltistan reported 6 such cases in the period.

The Covid-19 cases are on the decline in the country after the government took stricter measures to contain spread of the deadly virus.

The country is under strict lockdown ahead of Eid-ul-Fitr as public transport and other businesses have been closed so that people stay at home and the disease could be controlled.

Among all the provinces, Punjab is the worst-affected with 322,11 cases so far. Sindh comes in second with 294,251 cases, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has reported 125,392 cases, Islamabad 78,560 cases, Balochistan 23,655 cases, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 18,056 cases, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,407 cases. According to the officials, the death rate among people under the age of 40 years has risen during the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan. Earlier, it was 1 per cent but has risen to 1.8 per cent. 

Meanwhile, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar who also heads National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Wednesday that registration for Covid-19 vaccination for citizens aged 30 years and above will begin on May 16.

The Minister, in a tweet, said the decision has been taken in view of the improved vaccine supply and vaccination capacity in all the federating units.

He said the government would continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated.

“As vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all federating units, we continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated. Starting Sunday, the 16th of May, registration will be open to all 30 years and older citizens,” he said in the tweet.

A day before the Minister had said that the government was making concerted efforts to increase the supply of vaccines as well as expand the country’s vaccination capacity.

According to the official data, on Tuesday, 131,571 people across the country were administered the vaccine.

The total number of vaccines administered across the country so far stands at 3,883,884.