Another 24 people died and 1,980 were infected from coronavirus during the last 24 hours (Tuesday) across Pakistan taking the positivity ratio to 4.17 percent, showed the figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday morning.

As per the latest NCOC figures, with the addition of 24 new deaths the toll has now soared to 22,642 whereas the total number of cases has now reached 978,847 after adding 1,980 new ones.

During the past 24 hours (Tuesday), as many as 738 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 915,343. As of Wednesday, the total count of active cases was recorded at 40,862 and the positivity ratio stood at 4.17.63 percent.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1415125196239933443

As many as 349,586 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 348,725 in Punjab, 139,710 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 83,956 in Islamabad, 28,434 in Balochistan, 21,392 in Azad Kashmir and 7,044 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Moreover, 10,839 individuals have so far lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab, 5,621 in Sindh, 4,371 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 786 in Islamabad, 595 in Azad Kashmir, 317 in Balochistan and 113 in Gilgit Baltistan.

 GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Bangladesh lockdown -

Bangladesh will lift its coronavirus lockdown for its second-biggest religious festival, the Eid al-Adha, from July 20-22, the government says, even as new infections soar to record levels.

- France: rush to vaccinate -

The French government defends a decision to impose Covid tests for unvaccinated people who want to eat in restaurants or take long-distance trips, which prompted a surge in bookings for Covid jabs.

Prime Minister Jean Castex announces that France on Tuesday administered a record number of daily injections at 792,339 by 6:00 pm.

- Germany: No mandatory jabs -

Germany is not planning to follow France and other countries in introducing compulsory Covid-19 vaccinations for parts of the population, Chancellor Angela Merkel says.

- Russia's new daily deaths record -

Russia sets another record for virus-related deaths over a 24-hour period, despite efforts from authorities to slow a rampant third wave.

- $345 billion hit -

Commonwealth countries lost up to $345 billion in trade last year as the pandemic triggered a global economic slump, according to a report published by the Commonwealth Trade Review.

- Scotland keeps masks -

Scotland will partially ease some of its coronavirus restrictions from next week, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon says, but unlike in England, insists face coverings should remain for the foreseeable future.

- Star power -

Teen pop sensation Olivia Rodrigo will meet US President Joe Biden at the White House on Wednesday and will record videos there about the importance of young people getting vaccinated, the White House says.

- Four million dead -

The pandemic has killed at least 4,044,816 people since the virus first emerged in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data.

The United States is the worst-affected country with 607,400 deaths, followed by Brazil with 534,233, India with 410,784, Mexico with 235,058, and Peru with 194,488.

The figures are based on reports by health authorities in each country, but do not take into account upward revisions carried out later by statistical bodies. 

The WHO says up to three times more people have died directly or indirectly due to the pandemic than official figures suggest.

- Sydney lockdown extended -

Sydney's five million residents will be in virus lockdown for at least another two weeks, state premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Wednesday, rejecting calls to tighten restrictions further.

Australia's largest city is already in its third week of a partial lockdown and struggling to bring a fast-spreading outbreak of the coronavirus Delta variant under control.

In the past 24 hours, 97 new cases were recorded, more than the 89 reported the previous day.

Australia had been widely lauded for its early handling of the pandemic.

But a painfully slow vaccine rollout has left less than 10 percent of the population protected as much of the world gingerly reopens.

"It always hurts to say this, but we need to extend the lockdown, at least a further two weeks," said Berejiklian, premier of New South Wales state, of which Sydney is the capital.

Under Australia's "Covid zero" strategy, authorities are trying to stamp out community transmission completely.

Sydney's lockdown was due to end on July 16, but that date has now been pushed back until July 30.

With inputs from AFP.