ISLAMABAD: The coronavirus situation across the country continues to worsen as Pakistan reported 2,664 new cases over the past 24 hours on Sunday.
The positivity percentage of the virus has been measured at 6.5% while 32 people passed away from the disease in a single day. The fresh number of cases reported over the past 24 hours means that the total number of cases in the country has reached 605,200. Out of these, 570,751 have recovered from the novel virus while the total death toll has increased to 13,508.
Pakistan conducted 40,564 tests of the virus after which the above-mentioned results were obtained. The number of cases are rising in Punjab which has recorded 185,468 cases so far including 5,698 deaths while there are 9,963 active cases in the province.
Sindh has the highest number of coronavirus cases reported so far. The province has recorded 261,179 cases and 4,453 deaths so far while there are still 4,052 active cases.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has 75,725 reported cases so far including 2,153 deaths and has 3,058 active cases. Balochistan has 19,206 reported cases, 202 deaths and 136 active cases. Gilgit-Baltistan has one active case after being a coronavirus-free region for two days.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad administration has made the wearing of masks in public mandatory amid a worsening coronavirus situation in the country.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad, Hamza Shafqat issued a notification stated that Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) has been enforced for the implementation of the rule.
The district administration has warned that legal action will be taken against those found not wearing a mask, adding that the rule will remain in place for the next two months.
Additionally, five sectors of Islamabad have been declared coronavirus “hotspots” and will be sealed. Sectors G-6/2, Sector G-9/1, G-10/4 will be sealed as will Sectors I-8/3 and I/8-4. National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar had said “there is no doubt that the third coronavirus wave has begun”.
Separately, Rawalpindi imposed new restrictions, including on markets, which will now be required to shut down by 6pm, starting Monday. Four localities of Rawalpindi have also been declared as “hotpots” namely Street No. 4, Sadiqabad; Sreet No . 27, Allama Iqbal Colony; CB 1231 Near Qasar-e-Abu Talib, Azizabad; and Dhoke Parachi, Sadiqabad.
In Multan, a ban has been imposed on Jashn-e-Baharan and public gatherings. Wedding ceremonies are allowed so long as they take place in open-air venues with limited guests. Shops will be shut down by 6pm and indoor dining will no longer be allowed.
