Pakistan has reported another 66 deaths and 3,012 infections by coronavirus during the last 24 hours (Wednesday), showed the data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Thursday morning.

As per the NCOC figures, after the addition of 66 new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 27,004 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,215,821 after adding the fresh 3,012 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), a total of 56,778 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 5.30 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 5,039.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1438307810429882373 

During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), as many as 3,897 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,112,236. As of Thursday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 76,581.

As many as 447,678 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 418,196 in Punjab, 169,972 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 103,549 in Islamabad, 32,671 in Balochistan, 33,551 in Azad Kashmir and 10,204 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 12,319 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 7,210 in Sindh, 5,329 in KP, 893 in Islamabad, 727 in Azad Kashmir, 344 in Balochistan and 182 in Gilgit Baltistan.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis. 

- Minaj rapped -

Singer Nicki Minaj, who has not been vaccinated and claims the jab made her cousin's friend's testicles swell up, is slapped down by Britain's virus tsar, who says those who "peddle untruths" should be ashamed.

- Big EU jabs donation-

The European Union is to donate another 200 million vaccine doses to poor countries, more than doubling its present pledge.

- France gets tough -

France orders tens of thousands of carers and health workers to get vaccinated or be suspended without pay.

- Arizona hits back -

Arizona makes a court challenge to President Joe Biden's order requiring federal employees to be vaccinated or regularly tested. The rule also applies to businesses with more than 100 workers. 

- Let Africa buy jabs -

Africa wants to be given the chance to buy vaccines rather than wait for donor-funded doses to arrive, the African Union says.

- God, no -

Zimbabwe bans the unvaccinated from attending church services, the latest in a series of measures to boost uptake of the jab.

- Sydney eases curbs -

Australia's biggest city lifts curfews for virus hotpots, as infection numbers stabilise and vaccination rates surge. 

- Broadway is back -

New York's Broadway celebrates the return of some of its biggest musicals after an 18-month pandemic shutdown.

- UK inflation nine-year high -

British annual inflation spiked to a nine-year peak although last year's figure had been skewed by a restaurant discount scheme, official data shows.

- US pandemic aid impact -

Massive US government stimulus payments during the pandemic in 2020 boosted household income and lowered the share of Americans living in poverty, data shows.

- Togo's long emergency -

Togo extends a health state of emergency for 12 months after a surge in new cases.

- Dutch pass -

The Netherlands says it will further ease restrictions, including an end to social distancing, but will introduce a pass for bars, restaurants and festivals.

- Cross-country delay -

The World Cross Country Championships, scheduled for February in Australia, have been postponed to 2023 due to virus travel restrictions. 

- Over 4.6 million dead - 

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,646,416 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to an AFP compilation of official data. 

The US is the worst-affected country with 663,936 deaths, followed by Brazil with 587,797, India with 443,497, Mexico 269,016 and Peru 198,840.

Based on latest reports, the countries with the most new deaths were the US with 2,392, followed by Mexico with 1,047 and Russia with 792.

With inputs from AFP.