ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Tuesday reported its highest single-day spike in COVID-19 cases since July 8, with 2,954 new cases and 48 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, according to a government portal. 

Pakistan’s total coronavirus cases have reached 379,883 and there have been 7,744 deaths.

After a peak of over 6,800 daily infections in June, the number fell to a low of 213 in August, and remained below 700 for most of the last three months.

Pakistan ordered all schools and colleges shut from Thursday this week, as officials said on Monday the country had recorded its highest COVID-19 positivity ratio to date, at 7.46 percent, with 19 percent of the cases being reported from the education sector. Officials said hospitalizations due to the coronavirus had also doubled in the last two weeks.

Last week, Pakistan banned public political rallies after recording its highest daily coronavirus infections since July for four days running.

Several huge religious and anti-government public rallies have been held in major cities in recent weeks.

Prime Minister Imran Khan announced the ban, fearing hospitals would be overwhelmed as they were in June if people do not act responsibly.

“We have decided to ban public gatherings in the country, including ours planned over the weekend, as large crowds help in the spread of the virus,” Khan said on national television.