The statistics released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday morning showed that Pakistan has reported 13 more deaths and 516 infections from the coronavirus pandemic during the last 24 hours (Tuesday) with the authorities encouraging the public to get vaccinated at the earliest. 

As per the NCOC figures, after the addition of six new deaths, the overall toll has now surged to 28,405 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,270,322 after adding the fresh 516 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Tuesday), a total of 38,430 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 1.34 percent. The number of patients in critical care was 1,445.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1453165924681404425

During the last 24 hours (Tuesday), as many as 717 patients have recovered from the virus whereas the total recoveries stood at 1,217,935. As of Wednesday, the total count of active cases in the country was recorded at 23,982.

As many as 468,401 coronavirus cases have so far been confirmed in Sindh, 439,450 in Punjab, 177,646 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 106,777 in Islamabad, 33,211 in Balochistan, 34,450 in Azad Kashmir and 10,387 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Moreover, 12,902 individuals have lost their lives to the pandemic in Punjab so far, 7,555 in Sindh, 5,729 in KP, 938 in Islamabad, 740 in Azad Kashmir, 355 in Balochistan and 186 in Gilgit Baltistan.

Amid the receding pandemic, the NCOC authorities have urged the public to get themselves vaccinated as soon as possible.

https://twitter.com/OfficialNcoc/status/1453013837792284677

The NCOC maintained that the unvaccinated people were ten times more likely to get infected with Covid-19 as compared to the fully vaccinated people.

It urged the public: “Get yourself vaccinated to completely defeat COVID!!! Don’t forget to get your second dose for full protection.”

GLOBAL DEVELOPMENTS

Here are the global developments in the coronavirus crisis:

- Covid 'far from over' -

The Covid-19 crisis is far from over, the World Health Organization's emergency committee says as it calls for research into next-generation vaccines for long-term control of the pandemic.

- Pfizer for kids verdict awaited - 

US government advisors meet to decide whether to authorise the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine in five-to-11-year-olds, likely paving the way for younger children to get their shots within weeks.

- Covid on the rise in Europe -

Covid infections and deaths are on the rise again in Europe, with Russia, Ukraine and Romania registering the highest fatalities on the continent, an AFP tally shows.

- Social media time-out for Bolsonaro -

A Senate panel probing the Brazilian government's pandemic response asks the Supreme Court and prosecutor general's office to suspend President Jair Bolsonaro from social media for falsely linking Covid-19 vaccines to AIDS.

- China locks down city -

China places Lanzhou, a northwestern city of four million, under lockdown in a bid to stamp out a domestic coronavirus spike, with residents told not to leave home except in emergencies.

- Boosters for Italians, Swiss, Argentina -

All Italians are likely to be offered booster shots for the coronavirus vaccine to help contain the spread of new variants, a government official says, while Switzerland authorises the shots for the over-65s.

Argentina says it will in December launch a third shot campaign, starting with health workers and vulnerable people.

- Cambodia reopens -

Foreign tourists will soon roam Cambodia's ancient Angkor Wat temples once again, after officials flag a partial reopening to vaccinated travellers.

- Bayern's anti-vaxxer to play -

Bayern Munich footballer Joshua Kimmich will be under the spotlight when he plays at rivals Moenchengladbach on Wednesday after controversially revealing he opted not to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

- Over 4.9 million dead - 

The coronavirus has killed at least 4,952,390 people since the outbreak emerged in China in December 2019, according to a tally from official sources compiled by AFP on Tuesday. 

The US has suffered the most Covid-related deaths with 737,316, followed by Brazil with 605,804, India with 455,068, Mexico with 286,496 and Russia with 232,775.

The countries with the most new deaths were United States with 1,371, followed by Russia with 1,106 and Ukraine with 734

Taking into account excess mortality directly and indirectly linked to Covid-19, the WHO estimates the overall death toll could be two to three times higher.

 

With inputs from AFP.