The coronavirus infections registered a healthy surge as compared to a day earlier in Pakistan.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 2,363 new Covid-19 cases as compared a little over 1,700 infections the previous day.

The latest NCOC data released on Thursday showed that 54 people lost their lives due to the novel coronavirus during the last 24 hours (Wednesday).

With fresh 54 fatalities, the death toll has now risen to 11,157 while the number of confirmed cases stands at 527,146 in the country.

During the past 24 hours (Wednesday), as many as 2,179 patients have recovered from the virus while the number of recoveries was recorded at 480,696. As of Thursday, the total count of active cases is 35,293.

As usual Sindh remained at the top in terms of total infections followed by Punjab and other regions.

At least 238,470 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 151,603 in Punjab, 64,373 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 40,430 in Islamabad, 18,670 in Balochistan, 8,706 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 4,894 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

So far, 4,501 individuals have died in Punjab, 3,843 in Sindh, 1,811 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 460 in Islamabad, 248 in Azad Kashmir, 192 in Balochistan and 102 in Gilgit Baltistan.

A total of 43,744 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours while 7,525,432 samples have been tested.

Global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- 'Deadliest period': Biden -

US President Joe Biden leads a moment of silent prayer for victims of coronavirus and warns in his inaugural address the US may be entering "what may be the toughest and deadliest period of the virus."

- New British record -

Britain announces 1,820 fatalities from Covid-19 in a 24-hour period, breaking the previous day's record toll, as its chief scientist says some of its hospitals resemble a "war zone".

- 51 million doses -

More than 51 million doses of Covid-19 vaccines have been given around the world, according to an AFP count.

Meanwhile the World Health Organization reassures that nobody should panic about getting access to a vaccine, saying everyone who wants one will get one.

- Vaccine and new strains -

The Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine appears to be effective against the new, more infectious coronavirus variant that was first detected in Britain, two preliminary studies say.

But a separate study says another variant, detected in South Africa, poses a "significant re-infection risk" and raises concerns over vaccine effectiveness.

- Strain hits Beijing -

Some 1.6 million people are banned from leaving the Chinese capital as two cases linked to the British virus variant are found.

- First Dutch curfew -

The Netherlands plans to impose a nationwide curfew for the first time since the pandemic began and will ban flights from Britain, South Africa and South America from January 23.

- Sputnik V for EU? -

Russian authorities have applied for registration of the Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine in the European Union, the country's sovereign wealth fund financing the jab says.

- Chile approves Chinese vaccine -

Chile gives emergency approval to China's CoronaVac vaccine as it battles the epidemic which has claimed more than 17,500 lives in the country to date.

- Two million-plus dead -

At least 2,058,226 people have died of the virus since it first emerged in China in late 2019, according to a tally compiled by AFP on Wednesday based on official figures.

The US has suffered the highest death toll with 401,777 fatalities, followed by Brazil with 211,491 and India 152,718.

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.

With inputs from AFP.