ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported 3,752 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, a government portal showed, the highest single-day increase in infections since May 22.
Last week, Pakistan passed the grim milestone of one million cases of COVID-19 since the pandemic began last year.
Infections have been steadily increasing as the more contagious Delta variant spreads, and authorities expect a new surge from public activities during the Eid Al-Adha holiday last week.
About 30 nations have exceeded one million cases, and more than 190 million people have been infected worldwide, a number considered an undercount.
Pakistan last month announced it was easing wide-ranging coronavirus restrictions as infection numbers showed a steady decline on the back of strict lockdowns and an accelerated vaccination drive. The country of 220 million people has so far administered over 25 million COVID-19 vaccine doses, with infection numbers beginning to rise again.
“During last 24 hours most deaths occurred in Sindh [province] followed by Punjab,” Pakistan’s main pandemic response body, the NCOC, said in a statement. “Out of 32 deaths during last 24 hours 21 died on ventilators. 3,752 people tested Covid positive on 25 July. 32 people lost lives.”
“GET VACCINATED,” President Dr. Arif Alvi tweeted on Monday in response to the rising infections. “Save your friends, relatives and your nation. Don’t let the recent gains toward stability be sacrificed on the altar of neglect.”
GET VACCINATED. Save your friends, relatives and your nation. Don't let the recent gains towards stability ne sacrificed on the alter of neglect. You are a rising nation, so the important test is to 'rise to the occasion.' https://t.co/XK39QSeXxL
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) July 26, 2021
Pakistan’s planning minister said on Sunday the country planned to accelerate its coronavirus vaccination drive and inoculate 40 percent of the population by the end of August.