Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity ratio reaches 3.19%

By Muhammad JuniadPublished On 05 Jan 2023

The country is seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases as the positivity ratio reaches 3.19 percent, with one death reported, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) on Saturday.

According to new NIH statistics, 13,644 tests were performed in the last 24 hours, with 435 new cases detected.

"However, 87 patients remain in critical condition and are being treated in various hospitals across the country," the NIH stated.

COVID-19 has claimed the lives of 30,383 people in Pakistan so far. Since the previous high of 56 on September 30, 2021, fatalities have generally been declining. According to the government dashboard, the total number of cases in the country is 1,531,982.

Sindh health department orders strict implementation of SOPs

In a letter to the Karachi and Hyderabad commissioners a day earlier, the Sindh health department expressed concerns about a sixth COVID-19 wave.

The health department directed the commissioners to ensure that COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) were strictly followed in the two cities.

Mask-wearing, social distancing, checking vaccination cards, and limiting public transportation occupancy to 70% are among the SOPs.

The health department is concerned about the spread of the COVID-19 subvariants BA-5 and BA-4.