ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday observed that the Covid-19 positivity ratio was rapidly increasingly in the major cities, with the rate exceeding 15 percent in at least three cities across the country.
The NCOC meeting was informed that 4,136 micro smart lockdowns were in place across the country to control the spread of the coronavirus.
The forum was informed that Test Trace and Quarantine strategy was being used for disease control and prevention.
Nationwide coronavirus positivity ratio is 4.5 percent, while 15 major cities across Pakistan have higher positivity ratio.
Hyderabad has the highest positivity ratio in Pakistan with 16.59 percent positivity ratio, Gilgit 15.38 percent, Multan 15.97 percent, Muzafarabad 14.12 percent, Mirpur 11.11 percent, Peshawar 9.69 percent, Quetta 8.03 percent, Islamabad 7.48 percent, Karachi 7.12 percent, Lahore 5.37 percent, and Rawalpindi 4.63 percent.
The forum discussed in length recent surge in Covid positivity ratio and recent enforcement measures post NCC meeting.
The provincial chief secretaries updated the forum on administrative measures on fresh guidelines in higher positivity ratio cities in their respective provinces, particularly administrative measures and enforcement efforts regarding facemask wearing and arrangements for outdoor weddings' modalities to ensure fresh health guidelines.
The total active Covid-19 cases in Pakistan on Monday were recorded at 18,981 as 1,650 more people tested positive for the deadly coronavirus during the last 24 hours.
Nine coronavirus patients, eight of whom were under treatment in hospital, and one out of hospital, died on Sunday.
The NCOC added that 33,340 tests were conducted across the country on Sunday, including 14,343 in Sindh, 9,406 in Punjab, 4,052 in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 4,065 in the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 634 in Balochistan, 379 in GB, and 461 in the AJK.
Since the Covid-19 outbreak, 318,881 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients.
The country so far has detected a total of 344,839 cases, including the AJK 4,758, Balochistan 16,106, G-B 4,366, ICT 21,861, KP 40,657, Punjab 106,922, and Sindh 150,169.
About 6,977 deaths have been recorded in country since the start of the contagion, including 2,684 in Sindh including four who died in hospital and one out of hospital on Sunday, 2,408 in Punjab one of whom died in hospital on Sunday, 1,288 in KP, 241 in ICT including three who died in hospital on Sunday, 154 in Balochistan, 93 in G-B, and 109 in the AJK.
A total of 4,709,603 coronavirus tests have been conducted so far, while 736 hospitals are equipped with Covid facilities.
Some 1,107 coronavirus patients are admitted in hospitals across the country.
The forum was informed that recent health guidelines would remain in force in 16 major cities till 31st January next year.
The meeting was apprised that 2,811 oxygenated beds were included to ramp up hospitals' capacity. Over 13,000 oxygen cylinders were issued to the provinces and the federating units.
The NCOC appreciated efforts of the provinces for taking prompt and necessary measures in line with the health guidelines for public safety and well-being.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020
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