ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported 141 deaths from the coronavirus during the last 24 hours — the highest number of fatalities since May 3, when the country reported 161 deaths.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre, 61,410 tests were conducted during this period and 4,199 came back positive. The total number of cases has risen to 1,135,858 and the death toll is 25,220.
Till Aug 24, 2021, Pakistan has reported 1.14 million Covid cases and 25,220 deaths since the outbreak of the pandemic in the country.
The country’s positivity rate is 6.83 per cent. Sindh reported the highest number of deaths during the last 24 hours with 86 fatalities, followed by 28 in Punjab. According to NCOC, so far 4.882 million people have been vaccinated in the country. On Aug 24, 2021, 1.026 million were vaccinated across the country.
Breakdown of Covid-19 cases and deaths reported during the last 24 hours:
- Sindh: 1,721 cases, 86 deaths
- Punjab: 1,410 cases, 28 deaths
- Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: 522 cases, 20 deaths
- Azad Jammu and Kashmir: 222 cases, 1 death
- Islamabad: 209 cases, 3 deaths
- Balochistan: 63 cases, 2 deaths
- Gilgit-Baltistan: 52 cases, 1 death
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Tuesday that all air passengers, including those on incoming and outgoing international flights, would need to be fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by Sep 30.
In its review of the measures put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus, particularly in view of the spread of the Delta variant, planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads Pakistan’s response to the coronavirus, said incoming international passengers as well as those flying domestically or abroad would not be allowed to avail the facility from Sep 30 unless fully vaccinated against Covid-19.
The forum had already announced on July 25 that unvaccinated people above 18 could not fly domestically. However, according to the the latest order, a complete two-dose vaccination has been made compulsory for air travelers by the end of September.
The NCOC also said vaccination was obligatory for those employed in various sectors, saying the first dose of Covid-19 vaccine should be taken by Aug 31 and the second jab by Sep 30.
The following decisions were taken by the NCOC in its meeting today:
- Only fully vaccinated people will be allowed to travel domestically and internationally from Sep 30. The same condition applies to incoming passengers
- Full vaccination by Oct 15 is compulsory to use public transport facilities
- Vaccination for for those aged between 17 and 18 to begin from Sep 1
- Immunocompromised people aged above 12 will get a “specific vaccine” at certain centres from Sep 1
- Visitors at shopping malls, hotels, restaurants and weddings should get first dose by Aug 31 and second jab by Sep 30 to enter premises
- Students aged 17 and above should get first dose by Sep 15 and second dose by Oct 15. In case of non-compliance, they can’t enter educational institutions.
- People travelling on motorways should be vaccinated with first dose by Sep 15
- Similarly, travelers at highways must get first Covid-19 dose by Sep 30 and second dose by Oct 30 to prevent travel bar
- School van drivers should get first dose by Aug 31, 2021.
