The new wave of coronavirus cases fuelled by the Omicron variant has infected 1,467 more people in Pakistan while only two people died of the Covid-19 during the last 24 hours (Monday), showed the data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday morning.

The latest figures released by the NCOC suggested that after the addition of two new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 28,974 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,307,174 after adding the fresh 1,467 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Monday), 43,540 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at to 3.33 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 615.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1480718248689782786

During the last 24 hours (Monday), as many as 266 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,259,253. As of Tuesday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 18,947.

As many as 488,608 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 448,479 in Punjab, 181,790 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 109,495 in Islamabad, 33,661 in Balochistan, 34,708 in Azad Kashmir and 10,433 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 13,081 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 7,682 in Sindh, 5,943 in KP, 967 in Islamabad, 748 in Azad Kashmir, 367 in Balochistan and 186 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar once again advised people to follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for saving themselves from coronavirus (Covid-19) which is currently spreading fast in the country.

The federal minister said the people who were not vaccinated so far must do it as soon as possible. He said the persons who were fully vaccinated six months ago and are over 30 years of age, should go for a booster dose.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Djokovic set on Australian Open -

World tennis number one Novak Djokovic says he is hoping to still compete in the Australian Open, after a court overturns the cancellation of his visa made on Covid-19 health grounds.

- Deltacron variant -

Experts say that an alleged hybrid coronavirus mutation dubbed "Deltacron" reportedly discovered in a Cyprus lab is most likely the result of a lab contamination, and not a new worrying variant.

- New Swedish curbs -

Sweden announces a slew of new virus curbs, including early closings for bars and restaurants and a cap of 500 people at public gatherings, as it registers record numbers of Covid cases.

- EU lifts southern Africa ban -

The European Union agrees to take southern African countries -- Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe -- off its no-travel list, despite surging cases of the Omicron variant.

- India boosters begin -

India begins its booster shot campaign for frontline workers and vulnerable people aged 60 and above as daily case numbers approach the enormous figures seen last year when thousands died every day.

- More Chinese cases -

China reports more cases of the highly transmissible Omicron variant, with a possible outbreak in Tianjin -- just 150 kilometres from Beijing -- where 14 million residents have been ordered to be tested.

- Pfizer's Covid pill -

The EU's drug regulator says it could decide within weeks whether to approve Pfizer's Covid pill for use across the bloc.

- Asian cruise ship builder goes under -

Asian tourism and casinos giant Genting's shipbuilding subsidiaries in Germany file for bankruptcy, scuttled by the the coronavirus pandemic.

- Nearly 5.5 million dead -

The coronavirus has killed at least 5,486,519 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP tally compiled from official sources on Monday.

The United States has recorded the most Covid deaths with 837,664, followed by Brazil with 619,981, India on 483,936 and Russia 316,904.

Taking into account excess mortality linked to Covid-19, the World Health Organization estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.

With inputs from AFP.