ISLAMABAD: After a drop in coronavirus cases in the last two weeks, the number of new infections in Pakistan once more crossed 4,000 in 24 hours, a day after the government announced it would lift most restrictions imposed to control the spread of the disease.
According to the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the federal body that oversees Pakistan’s pandemic response, the country reported 4,207 new COVID-19 cases and 131 deaths in the last 24 hours.
Statistics 20 May 21:
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 51,130
Positive Cases: 4207
Positivity % : 8.22%
Deaths : 131— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) May 20, 2021
Since the virus emerged in Pakistan in February last year, 890,391 coronavirus cases have been reported, with 19,987 deaths.
According to NCOC data, throughout the past two weeks, Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate dropped from 14 percent to 7.79 percent on Wednesday.
To curb rising COVID-19 cases, the government had imposed a nationwide lockdown from May 8 to 16, including a ban on tourism and intercity public transport during the Eid Al-Fitr holidays last week. On Monday, Pakistan said it would continue its ban on tourism across the country “until further notice” but ease all other COVID-19 restrictions.
From Sunday, public transport services resumed in all provinces and cities across the country. Authorities also re-opened markets and shops and allowed offices to resume operations with 50 percent capacity.
On Wednesday, the government announced it would relax more restrictions: From May 24, educational institutions would reopen in districts where the COVID-19 positivity rate was below 5 percent, and all matric and intermediate exams would be held after June 20.
Outdoor restaurants would resume operations until midnight, while tourism activity would return under strict health protocols.
Elective surgeries in public hospitals would resume from June 1 while outdoor marriage ceremonies with maximum 150 participants would be allowed from June 1.
