5,329 new Covid-19 cases, 98 deaths recorded
Staff Reporter Islamabad
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said on Thursday that the government plans to open registration for Covid-19 vaccination for all citizens after Eid.
The announcement comes a day after over 100 deaths were reported for the second consecutive day on Wednesday, taking the overall tally to 15,000 mortalities.
Umar termed the next five to six weeks “critical” for the ongoing third wave of the virus in Pakistan.
He said so far 14,000 people had received vaccination through the private sector, while 1.1 million were inoculated as part of the government campaign.
The minister said China was Pakistan’s “primary source” for vaccination for now, adding that the Cansino Covid-19 vaccine will also be available in the country after Eid.
“We will be able to vaccinate more than 125,000 people per day after Eid,” Umar said.
He noted with concern that the current number of critical patients in the country was higher than during the first coronavirus wave.
“Strict enforcement of SOPs (standard operating procedures) can bring down the rising rate of infection,” he stressed.
Meanwhile, Pakistan reported 5,329 coronavirus cases and 98 deaths during the last 24 hours.
This is the highest number of daily Covid-19 infections so far this year as well as the highest since June 16, 2020, when 5,090 cases were reported. The current positivity rate is 10.7 per cent.
