ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s COVID-19 daily cases topped 8,180 for the first time in the pandemic on Friday as the highly infectious omicron variant continues to gain ground in the country.
In the past 24 hours, the South Asian nation recorded 8,183 9 new COVID-19 cases and 30 related deaths — its highest daily death toll since October last year — according to data from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which oversees the country’s pandemic response.
“Omicron variant continues spreading countrywide,” the NCOC said in a statement. “Please ensure you are fully vaccinated, received booster dose (if eligible) and follow SOPs including mask wearing and social distancing.”
The country’s virus positivity rate increased to 11.92 percent, and was highest in Peshawar at 29.65 percent, followed by Karachi at 27.92 percent, as the country is battling a fifth wave of infections.
So far, the nation of 220 million has fully vaccinated nearly 80.75 million of its residents.
