Pakistan has registered 732 new coronavirus infections and seven deaths during the last 24 hours (Friday), showed the statistics released by the National Institute of Health Pakistan on Saturday morning.

As per the NIH data, the death toll in Pakistan shot up to 30,420 whereas the number of total infections now stood at 1,542,377 after adding the fresh 732 cases.

During the last 24 hours (Friday), 22,568 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan whereas the positivity ratio stood at 3.24 percent. The number of patients in critical care was recorded at 158.

https://twitter.com/NIH_Pakistan/status/1545588306473324546

According to the NIH, six of the seven deaths were reported from Sindh and one from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The highest positivity ratio of 7.69 percent was recorded in Muzaffarabad while it was 5.74 percent in Karachi.

https://twitter.com/NIH_Pakistan/status/1545594098396037121

India reports 18,840 Covid-19 cases, 43 deaths

Recording a consistent rise in Covid-19 cases across the country, India on Saturday reported 18,840 fresh Covid-19 cases, according to Health Ministry updated data. The country reported 16,104 recoveries and 43 deaths in the last 24 hours, the Health Ministry data revealed. While the active cases in the country stands at 1,25,028 on Saturday, the daily positivity rate is at 4.14%, as per Health Ministry data.

Meanwhile, India on Friday witnessed a single day rise of 18,815 new coronavirus infections, taking the tally of Covid-19 cases to 4,35,85,554, while the active cases increased to 1,22,335. The death toll climbed to 5,25,343 with 38 new fatalities. The active cases comprise 0.28 per cent of the total infections, while the national Covid-19 recovery rate was recorded at 98.51 percent, the health ministry said.

An increase of 2,878 cases has been recorded in the active Covid-19 caseload on Friday. The daily positivity rate was recorded at 4.96 per cent while the weekly positivity rate was 4.09 per cent, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 4,29,37,876 while the case fatality rate was recorded at 1.21 per cent.

Australia removes all Covid-19 entry rules for travellers

Australia has finally removed all its remaining COVID-19 entry rules from this week making it easier for travellers. The country had implemented the strictest pandemic border restrictions in the world for the past two years. But from Wednesday, the nation has removed all of its remaining rules such as proof of vaccination or negative test report to enter. People wanting to visit Australia will not be required to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration also, informed the Department of Home Affairs.
Not only this, unvaccinated visa holders can also enter the country without any restriction. The Australian Border Force took to Twitter and tweeted, "COVID-19 border restrictions have changed. Travelers don't need to complete a Digital Passenger Declaration or Maritime Travel Declaration and all visa holders can travel to Australia without a travel exemption."

Though the country has removed all the restrictions, some states may impose their own rules. Face masks will also be required on flights to Australia. In fact, airlines have set their own vaccination rules, and airlines like Virgin Australia and Qantas, will require passengers to show their vaccination proof to fly internationally.
Australia started welcoming foreign travellers from February 2022. But the entry requirements and restrictions were in place. Visitors were required to be fully vaccinated and carry their show proof of a negative RT PCR test. Then in April, the country removed its pre-arrival testing requirements but travellers were still required to be vaccinated to enter.
With this development, Australia has become the latest nation to remove all entry restrictions related to COVID-19. The US, Italy, the United Kingdom, Sweden, Iceland, Ireland, Croatia and Aruba have already removed all pandemic-era related entry restrictions.