Pakistan reports 141 Covid-19 deaths, highest in nearly four months

Pakistan reported the highest number of deaths since May 3 after 141 people succumbed to the novel virus during the last 24 hours as the country's battle with the fourth wave continued.

The latest Covid-19 figures released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) shows Sindh reported 86 deaths during the last 24 hours, Punjab (28), Balochistan (2), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (20), Islamabad (3), Gilgit-Baltistan (1) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (1).

Meanwhile, the national Covid-19 positivity ratio during the past 24 hours was recorded at 6.83% after 61,410 tests were conducted.

Of these, 4,199 were reported to be positive, taking the national tally to 1,135,858. Currently, the active number of cases stands at 91,204, while there are 5,586 critical cases of which 73 patients' health have deteriorated.

The NCOC data also reveals that 3,915 infected people have recovered in the past 24 hours, taking the nationwide recoveries tally to 1,019,434.

On Tuesday, addressing a press conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on National Health Dr Faisal Sultan, NCOC head Asad Umar said that unvaccinated school teachers and staff will also not be allowed to work after October 15.

Number of active Covid-19 cases over 91,000 in Pakistan

He added that vaccination has been made mandatory for air travel after September 30.

Umar said that the government is taking steps to curb the virus spread for which vaccination is important, adding that a single dose vaccination is necessary for travelling on highways after September 15, while after October 15, no one will be allowed to use the motorway without vaccination.

Unvaccinated people will not be allowed to enter the shopping malls from August 31, he said, adding that a single dose vaccination will be mandatory for entry in the malls after the date.

From September 30, only those people who will have taken their both jabs will be allowed to enter the shopping malls, he added.

Only those people who have taken one jab will be allowed to enter the hotels from August 31, while complete vaccination will be mandatory for entry from September 30.

Those who have not taken their two jabs will not be allowed to attend marriage ceremonies whether it is indoor or outdoor after September 30.

No public transport for unvaccinated from Oct 15

Speaking on the occasion, SAPM Dr Sultan announced that citizens of age group 17-18 years would be allowed to get the Covid-19 vaccine from September 1.

Dr Sultan said that the vaccination for the age group 15-16 years will also start soon.

He said that those immunocompromised citizens of age 12 years and above would get special recommended Covid-19 vaccine on mega vaccination centres.

Similarly, he said those Pakistanis who want to travel abroad and they need specific vaccine as per respective country's requirement, now would be able to get such vaccine.