ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Thursday recorded 34 deaths, its highest single-day coronavirus death toll since July 25, a government portal showed, as a second wave of COVID-19 sweeps through the country.

Pakistan has reported 1,808 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours and recorded 349,992 infections and 7,055 deaths. According to official data, 1,164 patients were critical in Pakistan as of November 12, and 320,849 had recovered.

On Wednesday, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which leads coronavirus mitigation efforts across the country, called for banning large public gatherings and enhancing restrictions in high-risk areas.

Federal Minister for Planning, Asad Umar, chaired a meeting of the NCOC and submitted the following measures for approval by the federal and provincial governments:

That all public gatherings of more than 500 people be banned including political, cultural, religious, entertainment and civil society gatherings; schools shut down for early and extended winter vacations after input by federal and provincial education ministers; only take away and outdoor dining till 10 p.m. be allowed at restaurants; cinemas, theaters and shrines to be closed with immediate effect; and revised shortened timings be imposed for markets and shops.

“The Forum was told that the disease had increased three folds since the NCOC recommended to ban large public gatherings and outdoor activities on October 12 and November 3 to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) for its final decision. However, consensus by all stakeholders is awaited,” the NCOC said in a statement.

The federal minister of education will chair a meeting on November 16 and consult with provincial education ministers on whether to close educational institutions.

On its part, the NCOC suggested early and extended winter vacations for schools and only outdoor weddings with no more than 500 people from November 20.

Prime Minister Khan has repeatedly said the country would need to learn to “live with” the virus to avert pushing tens of millions living on daily wages into destitution.

Pakistan began to lift its lockdown, imposed in March, on May 9, about two weeks before the Eid Al-Fitr festival that marks the end of the Islamic holy month of Ramadan and is celebrated with congregation prayers, family gatherings and feasting. Transport and most businesses reopened but cinemas, theaters and schools remain closed.

In August, the government announced that virtually all sectors shut down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus would be reopened that month, other than schools and marriage halls, which opened in September. There has been a uptick in infection numbers since.