Pakistan recorded 52 more coronavirus deaths and 2,118 infections during the last 24 hours (Tuesday), showed the latest figures issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday morning.

The national death toll from the disease has surged to 10,461 (Sindh 3,634, Punjab 4,184, KP 1,695, ICT 432, Balochistan 186, GB 101 and AJK 229) while the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases has jumped to 492,594 (AJK 8,396, Balochistan 18,280, GB 4,873, ICT 38,531, KP 59,955, Punjab 142,058, Sindh 220,501).

As of Wednesday morning, there were total 37,740 active Covid cases across the country. The national positivity rate stands at 5.44 percent.

A total of 448,393 patients have recovered so far across Pakistan, making it a significant count whereas over 2,000 patients under treatment were said to be in critical condition.

Pakistan has tested 38,917 samples during the last 24 hours (Wednesday), of which Sindh conducted 12,457 tests, Punjab 15,997, KP 4,521, ICT 4,870, Balochistan 466, GB 357 and AJK 249.

So far, Pakistan had conducted 6,923,857 tests.

On Tuesday, another doctor Dr Anjum Saleem died of the deadly novel coronavirus in Karachi. The deceased was a gynaecologist at a private hospital in Karachi. He had been undergoing treatment for the virus for the past several days.

A total of 155 doctors have lost their lives due to coronavirus in Pakistan.

Also on Tuesday, the federal cabinet with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair allowed the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination to purchase Covid-19 vaccine.

Global developments
Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- England lockdown till March? -
England enters a strict national lockdown aimed at stemming a steep rise in virus cases that a senior government minister warns could last into March.

- Germany toughens up -
Germany toughens up and prolongs to January 31 its partial lockdown to allow people to meet up with only one other individual from another household.

- WHO seeks access -
World Health Organization experts begin travelling to China to investigate the origins of the pandemic, but Beijing has yet to provide the necessary access, the WHO chief says.

- 2nd dose delay? -
The WHO's vaccine advisory group says that the second Pfizer-BioNTech anti-Covid vaccine dose could, in "exceptional circumstances of supply constraints and epidemiologic settings" be administered a few weeks beyond the recommended 21-28 days.

- Premier League stricken - 
The English Premier League says that a record 40 players and staff have tested positive for Covid in the last two rounds of testing, but insists the football season will continue.

- Outlook downgraded -
The World Bank downgrades its outlook for the global economy, saying it should grow by 4.0 percent this year, two-tenths lower than previously forecast.

It also warns the pandemic has worsened the risks surrounding the rising debt load in developing nations.

- France plays catch up -
The French government, under pressure for lagging behind EU neighbours in rolling out vaccinations, promises to catch up quickly.

Health Minister Olivier Veran says more than 2,000 people had been vaccinated by Monday -- compared to 264,000 so far in Germany -- and that the "cruising speed of vaccinations will catch up with our neighbours in the coming days".

- Denmark tightens curbs -
Denmark toughens coronavirus restrictions, supplementing a partial lockdown in place since mid-December, with a ban on gatherings of more than five people.

- Irish deficit -
Ireland expects a €19 billion deficit for 2020 after an "unprecedented" slew of spending to offset the effects of the coronavirus crisis, the finance ministry says.

- Russia-Germany vaccines? -
Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Angela Merkel discuss the possibility of jointly producing coronavirus vaccines in a phone call, the Kremlin says. 

- 1.85 million dead        -          
The coronavirus has killed at least 1,854,305 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally on Tuesday based on official sources.

The US is the worst-affected country with 353,628 deaths, followed by Brazil with 196,561, India with 149,850 and Mexico with 127,757.

- Armenian President - 
Armenian President Armen Sarkisian tests positive for Covid-19 and is self-isolating in London, his office says.