ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported 4,974 coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, the highest number of new daily infections reported since June 20, 2020, as Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan on Wednesday ruled out a general lockdown.
With the latest numbers, Pakistan’s tally of coronavirus cases reached 672,931, with 14,530 deaths recorded since the start of the outbreak last February. At the moment, 3,303 patients are critically ill with COVDI-19 in Pakistan, according to government data.
Pakistan began a vaccination drive last February with over a million doses of Sinopharm vaccines donated by long-time ally China. A million doses bought from Sinopharm had arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday and the other half would arrive on Thursday, the health chief said.
On Thursday Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is also chief of the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) responsible for Pakistan’s coronavirus response, requested provincial governments to speed up their vaccination drives
“Received 5 lakh 60 thousand procured vaccines yesterday [on Wednesday]. Another 5 lakhs will arrive tonight,” Umar wrote on Twitter. “Reviewed the vaccine administration situation in NCOC today and asked the provinces to increase the pace of vaccination to fully utilize the vaccines which have been made available.”
Pakistan has so far opted for “smart lockdowns,” or short-term restrictions imposed at the neighborhood level, to try to tame the disease while keeping the economy afloat.
While federal and provincial governments have announced restrictions on gatherings, public transportation, and mask mandates, the measures remain largely unenforced.
