Pakistan reported an uptick in daily number of Covid-19 tests as it recorded another 19 coronavirus infections with no fatality during the last 24 hours (Friday), showed the statistics released by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Saturday morning, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

According to the NIH data, the death toll in the country remained the same at 30,640 whereas the number of total infections now rose to 1,576,166 after adding the fresh 19 cases. 

During the last 24 hours (Friday), 4,250 tests 25% more than the previous day’s numbers were conducted throughout the country whereas the positivity ratio slumped to 0.45 percent. The number of patients in critical care stood at 09.

https://twitter.com/NIH_Pakistan/status/1616604607987204102

Japan to lower Covid-19 to flu status

Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has announced plans to downgrade the legal status of Covid-19 to the equivalent of seasonal influenza in the spring, a move that would further relax mask-wearing and other preventive measures as the country seeks to return to normalcy.

Kishida said he has instructed experts and government officials to discuss the details on lowering Covid-19's status.

A change would also remove self-isolation rules and other anti-virus requirements and allow Covid-19 patients to seek treatment at any hospital instead of only specialized facilities.

Meanwhile, people infected with Covid-19 in Hong Kong will no longer need to quarantine from January 30, city leader John Lee said, the latest moves to scrap stringent coronavirus restrictions which had isolated the financial hub.