ISLAMABAD: Pakistan recorded 40 COVID-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours, the lowest death toll from the coronavirus since at least late May, data on a government portal showed on Thursday, raising hopes that the disease might be on the decline in Pakistan.
On Thursday morning, Pakistan had recorded 257,824 infections and 5,426 deaths from the coronavirus — a substantial decrease in daily infections and deaths since May, when lockdown restrictions were eased, causing a surge in both infections and deaths.
Pakistan also confirmed 2,145 new cases on Thursday, following 24,262 countrywide tests in the last 24 hours. The recovery rate is now 69.3%, according to official figures, after 5,924 recoveries were recorded across the country over the past 24 hours. The total number of recovered cases in the country now stands at 178,737, while 1,943 patients are in critical condition.
Pakistani officials believe the number of coronavirus cases in the country has significantly decreased due to a policy of imposing ‘smart lockdowns’ and sealing coronavirus hotspots around the country.
According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the highest forum that looks after coronavirus mitigation efforts, “as many as 321 smart lockdowns were being observed across the country.”
Planning Minister Asad Umar said this month the virus was on the decline in Pakistan and all “circumstantial evidence” indicated a drop in the number of patients coming to hospitals with coronavirus symptoms.
Pakistan also announced this week that it would resume vaccinations against polio next week, as coronavirus cases decreased and eased the burden on the country’s shambolic health system.