Tarin, Shehbaz test positive for Covid-19

Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday isolated themselves at their houses after they tested positive for coronavirus.

The meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) was postponed as well after the finance minister tested positive for the virus. 

Earlier in the day, PML-N spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb mentioned that Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Shehbaz had contracted coronavirus once again.

"The Covid-19 test is positive," Aurangzeb said, adding that the PML-N leader is quarantining at home.

She also mentioned that doctors have advised the 70-year-old complete rest and to abstain from any activity. "Shehbaz has urged the nation to pray for his health," she added.

Read: President Arif Alvi tests positive for Covid-19 again

Last year in June, Shehbaz had tested positive for the virus and a month later PML-N Vice President Maryam Nawaz was also tested positive for Covid-19.

Rising daily cases

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday reported 5,034 new cases of Covid-19, up 16% from a day earlier, and the biggest single-day rise since August 8, as the Omicron coronavirus variant took hold.

The national positivity ratio surged to 9.45%, in the last 24 hours, the highest since May 8, 2021. Sindh remained the worst affected province with 3,430 cases. Most of the cases were reported from Karachi, where the positivity ratio remained 38.79%.