1 million doses of Russian Sputnik V vaccine arrive in Islamabad

The first consignment of one million doses of Russian-made Sputnik V coronavirus vaccine arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday, the health ministry said.

Sputnik V is among the seven vaccines approved by the federal government for emergency use.

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), tweeted that over 1.5 million doses of coronavirus vaccines, the highest-ever daily shots, were administered in the last 24 hours across the country.

Pakistan's 35% of the adult population has received the first shot, he said.

The country has so far inoculated nearly 57 million people out of a total 208 million population.

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Pakistan is currently reeling from a deadly fourth wave of the pandemic, logging 3,559 fresh cases and 101 deaths over the past 24 hours, the ministry said.

The country's overall caseload and death toll stand at 1.16 million and 25,889, respectively.

Pakistan has been recording daily cases between 3,000 and 4,000 for the past several weeks, putting pressure on the already over-burdened hospitals, especially in the big cities.

Also read: NCOC extends anti-Covid curbs to 27 cities

Islamabad has imposed a new set of restrictions, which includes the closure of amusement parks, shrines, gyms, and cinemas, and a ban on indoor ceremonies and dining at restaurants.

All commercial activities – except for essential services – end at 8pm, whereas they are closed for two days a week.

Educational institutions across the country remain open for three days a week with 50% attendance.