Another 120 people lost their lives to coronavirus whereas 4,109 fresh cases were reported across Pakistan during the last 24 hours (Friday), showed the data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday morning.

As per the latest NCOC statistics, after the addition of 120 deaths, the toll has now surged to 18,797 whereas the number of confirmed cases stood at 854,240 after adding the new 4,109 ones.

A total of 48,103 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours (Friday). Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio stood at 8.54 percent.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1390820367288184837

On May 7, Punjab Chief Minister's Special Assistant Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan urged the public to strictly follow the Standard Operation Procedures (SOPs) issued by the government to control the spread of Covid-19 during Eid holidays.

Talking to media in Rawalpindi, Awan said that no traditional Eid gatherings will be held this year, adding, “There will also be no Jhappian [Hugs] and Pappian [kisses] this Eid”.

Punjab: Authorities reported 60 deaths due to the coronavirus, raising total casualties to 8,951. The province now has 316,334 confirmed cases; it reported 1,817 new infections after conducting 20,234 tests, a positivity ratio of 8.98 percent. There were 2,098 new recoveries recorded, leaving 266,745 fully recovered, and 40,638 active cases of the virus.

Sindh: Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Sindh have now climbed to 290,756; it reported 1,110 new infections after administering 13,676 tests, a positivity ratio of 8.12 percent. The province reported 24 deaths, raising toll to 4,722, while its recoveries rose by 1,034 to 268,558. Overall, the province now has 17,476 active cases of the novel coronavirus.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: During the past 24 hours (Friday), the provincial government recorded 630 new infections after conducting 7,744 tests, a positivity ratio of 8.13 percent. Overall, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s confirmed cases have climbed to 123,150. It recorded 25 new deaths and 1,147 recoveries, raising toll to 3,562 and recoveries to 109,609. There are currently 9,979 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Balochistan: The province raised its confirmed cases to 23,186 with 170 new infections after administering 1,287 tests for a positivity ratio of 13.2 percent. There were 3 deaths and 148 recoveries recorded in the past 24 hours, leaving 246 fatalities and 21,509 fully recovered. There are now 1,431 active cases of Covid-19 in the province.

Islamabad: The federal capital raised its confirmed coronavirus cases by 270 to 77,684 after conducting 3,945 tests, a positivity ratio of 6.84 percent. There was 4 deaths and 453 recoveries recorded in the past 24 hours, leaving 706 casualties; 65,977 recovered; and 11,001 active cases.

GB: Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 9 new cases of COVID-19 after conducting 372 tests, a positivity ratio of 2.42 percent; it now has 5,367 confirmed cases. The region reported no new deaths and 7 recoveries, leaving 107 fatalities and 5,146 fully recovered people. There are currently 114 active cases of COVID-19 in the region.

AJK: In Azad Kashmir, confirmed cases rose by 103 to 17,763 after administering 845 tests, a positivity ratio of 12.2 percent. There were 4 deaths and 70 recoveries in the past 24 hours, leaving 503 fatalities and 15,168 fully recovered. It now has 2,092 active cases of COVID-19.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- India's rocketing records -

Grappling with the world's worst Covid surge, India logs another record number of daily cases with 414,000 in the past 24 hours, as well as almost 4,000 deaths.

Among the worst hit states is Goa, a tourist hotspot famed for its beaches, which reports a staggering Covid positive rate of 41 percent.

- Nepal next? -

Infections are also spiralling in neighbouring Nepal, with two out five people tested now positive.

- Another AstraZeneca blow -

Britain's vaccination programme recommends under-40s be offered an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca jab, citing a "precautionary approach" over blood clot risks.

- But WHO gives China jab OK -

The World Health Organization approves the Sinopharm vaccine for emergency use -- the first Chinese jab to receive the body's green light.

- London goes for final -

Britain said it was willing to host the Champions League football final between English clubs Chelsea and Manchester City after Turkey -- where the match was to be held -- was put on a virus travel red list.

- Japan extends emergency -

A state of emergency in Tokyo and other parts of Japan will be extended, less than three months before the Olympics, as cases surge.

- Wise old age -

The world's oldest person, a Japanese woman aged 118, has given up her spot in the Olympic torch relay because "the spread of the coronavirus has not been contained", her family says.

- Halting third wave -

Germany seems to have halted a surge of infections driven by the British variant, Health Minister Jens Spahn says, but warns against lifting restrictions too quickly.

- Oz shut till 2022... -

Australia's prime minister says the country will not extend its controversial ban on citizens returning from India, following widespread public outrage.

But the country is likely to remain shut to visitors until late 2022 as the wave of cases on the Indian sub-continent shows the near blanket ban on arrivals is still essential to keep it Covid-free, says the tourism minister.

- ...but Greek beaches open -

Greece will reopen private beaches on Saturday and museums next week, as the tourism-dependent country gears up for a May 15 travel restart.

- Rule-flouting ex-leader -

Former Malaysian leader Najib Razak, who has been convicted over a mammoth fraud scandal, is fined for breaking pandemic rules while dining out by failing to register at the restaurant or have his temperature taken.

- Over 3.2 million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 3,258,595 people worldwide since the virus first emerged in late 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data. 

The US is the worst-affected country with 580,064 deaths, followed by Brazil with 416,949, India 234,083, Mexico 218,173 and Britain 127,583. 

With inputs from AFP.