Punjab contributing 55% to Covid-19 mortality rate: NCOC

Provincial administrations urged to strictly ensure implementation of SOPs, warning of action against violators

ISLAMABAD:

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) revealed on Monday that Punjab was contributing 55% to the national Covid-19 mortality rate.

During a meeting held with all provincial chief secretaries, the NCOC expressed concern over the rising Covid-19 positivity ratio.

However, the provinces were appreciated for taking prudent action for disease control through high impact Interventions.

The provincial administrations were further advised to take strict administrative actions against those found violating SOPs. Massive crackdown to be ensured against all those who fail to implement NPIs/SOPs, the NCOC stated.

The country's main body dealing with the pandemic requested the provinces to ensure that SOPs were strictly being followed in transportation services and hotels. Violation could otherwise result in the closure of the tourism sector, it warned.

“Tourists going to G-B, AJK and other tourist spots are requested to ensure proper SOPs,” the NCOC advised.

“People are requested to ensure the vaccination of senior citizens as the majority of mortality cases reported are from that age group,” the NCOC statement read.

Statistics

Pakistan recorded 2,253 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, taking the country's Covid-19 tally to 607,453.

According to the NCOC, the country's death toll climbed to 13,537 after 29 people succumbed to the deadly disease during the last 24 hours. Most deaths occurred in Punjab, followed by K-P.

Meanwhile, 1,307 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking the total recoveries to 571, 878.

According to the NCOC, total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 22,038.

The highest number of ventilators occupied in the country was found to be in Islamabad with 38 per cent occupancy, followed by Lahore at 34 per cent, Multan at 28 per cent and Peshawar at 23 per cent.

Read more: Sindh tightens Covid-19 restrictions till April 15

The NCOC further reported that the highest number of oxygen bed occupancy in the country was in Gujrat at 59 per cent, followed by Peshawar at 45 per cent, Islamabad at 36 per cent and Lahore at 30 per cent.

About 44,061 Covid-19 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, out of which 8,036 were conducted in Sindh; 22,916 in Punjab; 6,931 in K-P; 4,773 in Islamabad; 483 in Balochistan; 312 in G-B and 610 tests were conducted in AJK.

Deaths by province

Out of the 13,537 total reported deaths, there had been about 4,458 deaths in Sindh, 5,769 in Punjab, 2,159 in K-P and 526 in Islamabad.

About 202 deaths were reported in Balochistan, 103 in G-B and 320 in AJK.

The NCOC also reported that a total of 9,529,763 tests have been conducted since the outbreak of the virus. There are about 631 hospitals with Covid-19 facilities with 2,329 patients admitted across the country, it added.