The second wave of the novel coronavirus has proven to be a worse hit for Pakistan. With cases rising nationwide, the situation is rather alarming. While the positivity ratio continues to rise in cities across the country, it has surpassed 20% in Karachi, becoming the highest in the country, according to the National Command and Operation Center. In a meeting held in Islamabad, NCOC was informed that the city’s COVID-19 positivity rate was reported at 20.12%, followed by Hyderabad where the positivity rate stands at 18.43%. Abbottabad reported the third-highest rate at 14.53%.
It was revealed that the number of coronavirus patients in critical condition has increased to 2,496. Sindh has the highest positivity rate of 14.1%, while Azad Jammu and Kashmir stands at the second spot with a ratio of 11.9%. Punjab has a positivity rate of 4.2% — the lowest in the country. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s positivity rate is 5.6% while Balochistan has 12.5%. Islamabad and Gilgit-Baltistan have positivity rates of 6.6% and 4.7%, respectively.
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In the past 24 hours, Pakistan has reported 39 deaths and over 3,000 new cases. Health experts have warned that the second wave of COVID-19 is more dangerous than the first. Hospitals are back to being overwhelmed, with some of them not taking coronavirus patients anymore due to lack of space. Prime Minister Imran Khan recently approved a recommendation for placing orders for a coronavirus vaccine in advance. The same was revealed by Parliamentary Secretary for Health Ministry Dr Nosheen Hamid, who mentioned the government has so far contacted two firms that are developing a vaccine for the virus. Pakistan aims to immunize 10 million citizens in the first phase, with frontline workers and the elderly being top priority. While appearing on Geo Pakistan, Hamid stated that the coronavirus vaccine will be free of cost for all citizens.
