Pakistan has reported 3,752 coronavirus cases during the last 24 hours, taking the national positivity rate to a whopping 7.51 percent as the country battles a fourth wave of the pandemic.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre, this is the highest number of cases reported since May 21 when 4,007 infections were reported, and a dramatic overnight increase from the 2,819 cases reported a day earlier.
Meanwhile, the positivity rate in the country is the highest since May 19 when it was recorded as 8.23pc.
During the last 24 hours, 49,947 tests were carried out and another 32 deaths were reported. The total number of cases in the country has risen to 1,008,446 and the death toll from the virus stands at 23,048.
Sounding alarm over the dramatic increase in cases, President Dr. Arif Alvi urged citizens to “get serious”.
Alarming. 3752 new Covid patients y/day. Get serious people of Pakistan. Cases have shot up post Eid. I was expecting & warning about it as I saw carelessness in streets, bazaars, weddings & mosques. Lets put our act together. Follow SOPs Wash hands, Mask & Social Distance 🙏 pic.twitter.com/QPTGaf74kE
— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 26, 2021
“Cases have shot up post-Eid. I was expecting and warning about it as I saw carelessness in [the] streets, bazaars, [and at] weddings and mosques,” he said, calling upon the people to “pull their act together” and follow SOPs.
He also urged Pakistanis to get vaccinated to protect themselves and their loved ones. “Don’t let the recent gains towards stability [be] sacrificed on the altar of neglect. You are a rising nation, so the important test is to ‘rise to the occasion,” he said.
GET VACCINATED. Save your friends, relatives and your nation. Don't let the recent gains towards stability ne sacrificed on the alter of neglect. You are a rising nation, so the important test is to 'rise to the occasion.' https://t.co/XK39QSeXxL
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) July 26, 2021
PPP Senator Sherry Rehman also voiced her concern at the country’s Covid-19 data.
“Less than seven million people have been fully vaccinated. Only 44,000 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours. If SOP compliance and testing remains low, we are heading towards a Covid disaster,” she warned.
Pak becomes the 30th country in the world to mark a million COVID-19 cases.Death toll surges past 23,000. Less than 7m people have been fully vaccinated. Only 44k tests conducted in last 24 hours. If SOP compliance and testing remains low, we r heading towards a COVID disaster pic.twitter.com/wHw4PUW6D5
— SenatorSherryRehman (@sherryrehman) July 26, 2021
The increase in cases comes days after the Sindh government decided to reimpose coronavirus restrictions from Monday (today), banning indoor and outdoor dining at restaurants and curbing market timings due to an increase in cases.
A day earlier, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar — who also heads the NCOC — had said that all major cities were aiming to vaccinate 40pc of the eligible population by the end of August.
“Total vaccinations carried out so far now exceed 25 million. The total number of people vaccinated has now crossed 20 million. Further acceleration is being planned for August. By the end [of] August all major cities target to have at least 40pc of the eligible population vaccinated,” Umar had tweeted on Sunday.
Total vaccinations carried out so far now exceed two and a half crores. Total number of people vaccinated has now crossed 2 crores. Further acceleration being planned for august. By end August all major cities target is to have at least 40% of eligible population vaccinated.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 25, 2021
