59 more die, 2,665 affected as Covid-19 positivity rate soars to 6.8%

ISLAMABAD: As the country is witnessing a sharp increase in coronavirus cases since the start of the second wave, the Covid-19 positivity rate has soared to 6.8 per cent.

As many as 38,983 samples were tested during the past 24 hours, out of which 2,665 turned out to be positive, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

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The infection claimed 59 more lives across the country during this period, lifting the death toll from the disease to 7,662. The number of active Covid-19 cases increased to 36,683.

A total of 374,173 confirmed cases have been reported while 329,828 have recovered thus far. 653 of the patients under treatment are said to be in critical condition.

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Since the outbreak of the coronavirus began, Sindh has reported 162,221, Punjab 114,010, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 44097, Balochistan 16,744, Islamabad 26,569, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 6,000 and Gilgit Baltistan 4,526.

Taking to Twitter, Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who heads the NCOC, said: “More than 50 coronavirus deaths have been reported across the country for the first time after a gap of four months.”

He stressed the need for the nation to follow SOPs to curb the spread of the second wave so that not only people’s lives but their livelihoods are saved as well.

چار ماہ کے وقفے کے بعد پہلی مرتبہ ملک میں کرونا اموات کی تعداد 50 سے زائد. کل 59 کرونا مرض میں مبتلا افراد جاں بحق ہو گئے. انتہائی ضروری ہے کے قوم یکجا ہو کر پھر سے احتیاطی تدابیر پر عمل کرے، تاکہ ہم لوگوں کی صحت کی بھی حفاظت کریں اور لوگوں کے روزگار کو بھی بچا سکیں

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 22, 2020

Pakistan records highest number of daily coronavirus deaths after four months