Pakistan has recorded 10 more deaths and 460 infections from the coronavirus pandemic during the last 24 hours (Wednesday), showed the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Thursday morning,

As per the NCOC data, after the addition of 10 new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 28,638 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,280,822 after adding the fresh 460 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), a total of 41,131 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 1.11 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 1,044.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1461151675293577217

During the last 24 hours (Wednesday), as many as 336 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,229,683. As of Thursday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 22,501.

As many as 473,561 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 442,162 in Punjab, 179,346 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 107,406 in Islamabad, 33,422 in Balochistan, 34,521 in Azad Kashmir and 10,404 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 12,986 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 7,609 in Sindh, 5,809 in KP, 949 in Islamabad, 741 in Azad Kashmir, 358 in Balochistan and 186 in Gilgit Baltistan.

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Covax's half a billion -
The Covax scheme aimed at more equitable access to vaccines has now delivered more than 500 million doses around the world.

- Novavax decision 'within weeks' -
US pharmaceutical giant Novavax applies for authorisation for its vaccine in the EU with a decision possible "within weeks", Europe's drugs regulator says.

- Sweden vaccine pass -
Sweden -- which has taken a relatively light-touch virus approach -- will introduce a vaccination pass on December 1 for public indoor events of more than 100 people.

- Burkina to reopen borders -
Burkina Faso is to reopen its land borders -- closed since march 2020 -- allowing road and rail travel from December 1, a government spokesman says.

- Spain boosts boosters -
Spain says it will widen its booster shot programme to include those aged over 60 and health professionals to increase their resistance to a resurgent coronavirus that is on the rise again.

- Teleworking and mask-wearing in Belgium -
Belgian Prime Minister Alexander De Croo announces that it will be compulsory to wear masks in public and that those who can work from home should do so at least four days a week from Monday

- Portugal eyes new Covid measures -
Portugal says it is considering new coronavirus measures as cases and hospitalisations rise, even with one of the world's highest vaccination rates.

- Uber restarts sharing -
Uber resumes its cut-price ride-sharing service in the United States after suspending it last year because of the pandemic.

- FedEx closes Hong Kong base -
Freight giant FedEx is closing its crew base in Hong Kong -- the world's busiest international cargo hub -- and relocating pilots because of the city's strict quarantine measures.

- Times Square party back -
New York City will allow crowds back into Times Square on New Year's Eve to ring in 2022 after last year's muted celebrations.

- Ireland works at home -
Ireland is asking people to work from home again and expanding its booster vaccination drive as cases and hospitalisations rise.

- More than five million dead - 
The coronavirus has killed at least 5,115,601 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP at 1930 GMT Wednesday. 

The United States has suffered the most Covid-related deaths with 765,913, followed by Brazil with 611,478, India with 464,153, Mexico with 291,241 and Russia with 259,084.

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

With inputs from AFP.