ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) — the federal government’s central body dealing with the pandemic — said on Wednesday 201 people had died in Pakistan in the last 24 hours, the highest death toll since the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020.

Pakistan recorded 5,292 new infections over the last 24 hours, taking the total number of coronavirus cases to 810,231.

“Out of 201 deaths during last 24 hours 84 died on ventilators,” the NCOC said in a statement. “177 died in hospital and 24 out of hospital.”

The total death toll from the coronavirus is now 17,530 in Pakistan, with the highest number of deaths in Punjab province (8,224), followed by Sindh (4,624).

Highest ventilator occupancy in the country is in the eastern city of Lahore, at 75 percent, followed by Multan at 74 percent, Mardan at 73 percent, and Gujranwala at 59 percent.

The highest number of “oxygen beds” were occupied in Gujranwala at 98 percent, followed Multan at 76 percent, Peshawar at 72 percent and Mardan at 71 percent.

Meanwhile, NCOC chief Asad Umar said daily vaccinations in Pakistan had crossed 100,000 in a day for the first time on Tuesday: