Pakistan recorded less than 300 coronavirus cases for the fourth day in a row, reporting 216 infections during the last 24 hours. The positivity ratio dropped even further to 0.63pc today. According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 33,435 tests were conducted during this period. The total number of cases in the country has risen to 1,280,092. Meanwhile, the death toll stands at 28,618.
This is an encouraging situation considering that the incidence and mortality rates of coronavirus were around ten times greater when the pandemic was at its highest level, establishing Pakistan as one the most successful countries in the region in the battle against the dreaded illness.
The federal government launched a systematic vaccination campaign earlier this year and set the target of immunising 70 million people by the end of 2021. So far, more than 50% of the population has been administered at least one dose of the coronavirus vaccine. This is a good progress showing that the authorities have managed the vaccination drive in an efficient manner, and all those associated with the fight against the scary disease worked with full empathy with the people. The highest rate of immunisation has been registered in Islamabad, Mandi Bahauddin and Mardan. Vaccination needs to be accelerated in Hyderabad, Karachi, Quetta, Mingora, Mardan and Faisalabad. The Sindh government has launched a door-to-door vaccination campaign with the aim of immunising the maximum number of people. K-P is the second province where half of the population has been given at least one dose of the vaccine.
However, people should not be complacent. The special assistant to the PM on health has motivated the unvaccinated to get vaccinated as the risk of contracting Covid-19 is still there, sounding a warning that a fifth wave might hit the country. last time the country had reported cases below 231 was 14 months ago when 213 people got infected on Aug 30, 2020. Similarly, the positivity rate on Saturday was the lowest ever recorded since the relevant authorities started measuring infection rates in March last year.
