Pakistan has achieved yet another grim landmark as far as the coronavirus pandemic is concerned after the death toll from Covid-19 in the country topped 11,000 and infections 523,000.

According to the latest data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday morning, Pakistan reported 58 deaths during the last 24 hours (Monday) by the novel coronavirus taking the total number of fatalities to 11,055 and the number of positive cases has surged to 523,011 after the addition of 1,800 more infections.

Sindh remained the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

As many as 236,530 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 150,316 in Punjab 63,825 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40,177 in Islamabad, 18,622 in Balochistan, 8,654 in Azad Kashmir and 4,887 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Furthermore, 4,460 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 3,813 in Sindh, 1,791 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 457 in Islamabad, 243 in Azad Kashmir, 190 in Balochistan and 101 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Pakistan has so far conducted 7,442,084 coronavirus tests and 36,513 during the last 24 hours (Monday). As many as 476,471 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,341 patients are in critical condition.

Second vaccine for emergency use

The Government of Pakistan has approved another vaccine, Chinese pharma Sinopharm's Covid vaccine, for emergency use in the country. 

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) approved Chinese state-owned firm Sinopharm’s vaccine for emergency use.

The Oxford University-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine was the first to be authorised by the Drap on Friday last.

Global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Vaccination drives -

Russia launches a mass coronavirus vaccination campaign after President Vladimir Putin tasked officials with making the Sputnik V jab available to the country's entire population.

And authorities in Brazil will roll out a nationwide vaccination campaign Monday, two days earlier than announced.

But India reveals that almost one-third of the 300,000 people invited for a shot on the first two opening days over the weekend did not turn up.

- WHO, China criticised -

China and the World Health Organization could have acted faster to avert catastrophe during the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak, The Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response says.

- Norway: no jab/death link -

Norway says no link has been established between Pfizer-BioNTech's Covid-19 vaccine and the 33 post-vaccination deaths registered in the country, but recommends doctors consider the overall health of the most frail before inoculating them.

- Jabs for seniors - 

France and Britain join a growing list of nations starting mass vaccinations for the elderly with London extending its campaign to everyone over 70 and the French drive covering all people over 75.

- Save Eurostar -

British business leaders call on the government to rescue cross-Channel train operator Eurostar after the firm said it was close to collapse following border closures.

- Salesman spreader -

Nearly three million people are under lockdown in China after a surge in cases linked to a travelling salesman in the country's northeast who gave healthcare workshops to middle-aged and elderly residents.

- More than two million dead -

The pandemic has killed more than two million people worldwide, according to a tally compiled by AFP on Monday based on official figures.

At least 2,031,048 people have died of the virus since it first emerged in China in late 2019.

The US has suffered the highest death toll with 397,600 fatalities, followed by Brazil with 209,847 and India 152,419.

The number of deaths globally is broadly under-estimated. The toll is calculated from daily figures published by national health authorities and does not include later revisions by statistics agencies.

- Ice hockey -

Belarus is stripped of its role as co-host of the 2021 ice hockey world championships over "growing safety and security concerns related to both the rising political unrest and Covid-19".