As the Army soldiers begin patrolling markets in 16 cities across the country, another 142 people lost their lives to coronavirus whereas 4,487 fresh cases were reported during the last 24 hours (Monday), showed the statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday morning.

As per the NCOC figures, after the addition of 142 deaths the toll has now surged to 17,329 while the number of confirmed cases stood at 804,939, after adding the 4,487 new ones.

   During the past 24 hours (Monday), 5,770 patients have recovered from the virus while the total recoveries stood at 699,816. As of Tuesday, the total count of active cases was recorded at 87,794, and the positivity rate recorded at 10.20 percent.

As many as 279,272 coronavirus cases have now been confirmed in Sindh, 293,468 in Punjab, 114,661 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 73,804 in Islamabad, 21,803 in Balochistan, 16,659 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir and 5,272 in Gilgit Baltistan.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1386815387002621958

Moreover, 8,097 individuals have so far lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab, 4,605 in Sindh, 3,156 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 670 in Islamabad, 464 in Azad Kashmir, 232 in Balochistan and 105 in Gilgit Baltistan.

The health facilities across the country conducted 43,981 coronavirus detection tests, taking the total number of COVID-19 tests to 11,632,91 since the first case was reported earlier last year.

On Monday, the Sindh government closed all schools, colleges and universities across the province as the third wave of novel coronavirus intensified.

Punjab: Authorities reported 107 deaths due to the coronavirus, raising total casualties to 8,097. The province now has 293,468 confirmed cases; it reported 2,680 new infections after conducting 19,368 tests, a positivity ratio of 13.84 percent. There were 3,621 new recoveries recorded, leaving 239,290 fully recovered, and 46,081 active cases of the virus.

Sindh: Confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus in Sindh have now climbed to 279,272; it reported 727 new infections after conducting 11,855 tests, a positivity ratio of 6.13 percent. The province reported 6 new deaths, raising toll to 4,605, while its recoveries rose by 343 to 262,639. Overall, the province now has 12,028 active cases of the novel coronavirus.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: During the past 24 hours (Monday), the provincial government recorded 584 new infections after conducting 6,924 tests, a positivity ratio of 8.43 percent. Overall, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s confirmed cases have climbed to 114,661. It recorded 22 new deaths and 1,109 recoveries, raising toll to 3,156 and recoveries to 98,045. There are currently 13,460 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Balochistan: The province raised its confirmed cases to 21,803 with 60 new infections after conducting 480 tests, a positivity ratio of 12.5 percent. There were no deaths and 64 recoveries in the past 24 hours, leaving 232 fatalities and 20,350 fully recovered. There are now 1,221 active cases of COVID-19 in the province.

Islamabad: The federal capital raised its confirmed coronavirus cases by 354 to 73,804 after conducting 4,423 tests; a positivity ratio of 8 percent. There were 5 deaths and 528 recoveries in the past 24 hours, leaving 670 casualties; 60,521 recovered; and 12,613 active cases.

GB: Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 14 new cases of COVID-19 after conducting 319 tests, a positivity ratio of 4.39 percent; it now has 5,272 confirmed cases. The region reported no new deaths and 7 recoveries, leaving 105 fatalities and 5,050 fully recovered people. There are currently 117 active cases of COVID-19 in the region.

AJK: In Azad Kashmir, confirmed cases rose by 68 to 16,659 after conducting 612 tests, a positivity ratio of 11.11 percent. There were 2 deaths and 98 recoveries in the past 24 hours, leaving 464 fatalities and 13,921 fully recovered. It now has 2,274 active cases of COVID-19.

Global developments

Here are the latest developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- India plight 'heartbreaking' -

The World Health Organization chief describes as "beyond heartbreaking" India's record-breaking wave of Covid-19 cases and deaths that has overwhelmed hospitals and set crematoriums working at full capacity.

Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus says the organisation has sent thousands of oxygen concentrators, prefabricated mobile field hospitals and laboratory supplies, speaking after the US and UK also rushed emergency supplies.

- EU sues AstraZeneca -

The European Union says it has launched legal action against AstraZeneca over coronavirus vaccine delivery shortfalls that hampered efforts to kickstart inoculations across the bloc.

The pharmaceutical giant says the lawsuit is "without merit".

- 'Let bodies pile high' -

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson faces a call to resign after claims he dismissed the prospect of thousands dying from Covid-19 in an escalating row over government "sleaze".

Asked if he said he would rather see "bodies pile high in their thousands" than impose a third lockdown, Johnson tells reporters: "No".

- Thais toughen measures -

Prime minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha is fined for not wearing a mask after new restrictions come into force in Thailand to try to halt an outbreak that has seen deaths hit a record single-day high over the weekend.

- Iran deaths top 70,000 -

The Covid-19 death toll in Iran passes 70,000, according to health ministry figures, with a record 496 deaths in the past 24 hours in the Middle East's worst-hit country.

- Italy begins to open -

Bars, restaurants, cinemas and concert halls can partially reopen across Italy in a boost for pandemic-hit businesses, as Prime Minister Mario Draghi unveils a massive 220-billion-euro ($266-billion) EU-funded recovery plan. 

- Scottish pubs reopen -

Scottish pubs are allowed to reopen for the first time this year, along with non-essential retail and leisure facilities such as gyms, swimming pools and nail bars.

- Back to primary school -

Primary schools and kindergartens reopen in France after a three-week shutdown, as the government begins easing restrictions imposed when France entered its third nationwide lockdown on April 3.

- Indian variant -

Authorities in northern Italy announce they have identified two cases of the Indian variant of coronavirus, in a father and daughter recently returned from India. 

- More than three million deaths -

At least 3,109,991 people have died of Covid-19 around the world since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP.

The US is the worst-affected country with 572,200 deaths, followed by Brazil with 390,797, Mexico 214,947, India 195,123 and Britain 127,428. 

With inputs from AFP.