Pakistan

Pakistan sees slight decline in COVID-19 positivity ratio

Published

2 years ago

Farwa

Pakistan reports slight decline in coronavirus positivity ratio.
COVID-19 positivity rate in Pakistan declines from 3.65% yesterday to 3.35% today (Friday).
As many as 177 people suffering from virus being treated in critical care units.

Pakistan reported a slight decline in its coronavirus positivity ratio while another person succumbed to the virus, National Institute of Health, Islamabad’s (NIH) data showed Friday morning.

As per the latest stats, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Pakistan declined from 3.65% yesterday to 3.35% today (Friday).

On Thursday, the country had reported nine deaths in a single day which was the highest in 20 days.

As many as 693 new COVID-19 infections were detected after testing on 20,678 samples in the last 24 hours, taking Pakistan’s total cases to 1,553,325.

Meanwhile, 177 people suffering from the virus are being treated in critical care units.

COVID-19 Statistics 29 July 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 20,678
Positive Cases: 693
Positivity %: 3.35%
Deaths: 01
Patients on Critical Care: 177
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) July 29, 2022

What is COVID BA.5 variant and why is it reinfecting so many people?

BA5, part of the Omicron family, is the latest coronavirus variant to cause widespread waves of infection globally.

According to the World Health Organisation’s most recent report, it was behind 52% of cases sequenced in late June, up from 37% in one week. In the United States, it is estimated to be causing around 65% of infections.

Rising case numbers

BA5 is not new. First identified in January, it has been tracked by the WHO since April.

It is a sister variant of the Omicron strain that has been dominant worldwide since the end of 2021 and has already caused spikes in case rates – even with reduced testing – in countries including South Africa, where it was first found, as well as the United Kingdom, parts of Europe, and Australia.

Coronavirus cases worldwide have now been rising for four weeks in a row, WHO data showed.

Why is it spreading?

Like its closely related sibling, BA4, BA5 is particularly good at evading the immune protection afforded either by vaccination or prior infection.

For this reason, “BA5 has a growth advantage over the other sublineages of Omicron that are circulating,” Maria Van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead on COVID-19, told a news briefing on Tuesday.

For many people, this means that they are getting re-infected, often even a short time after having COVID-19. Van Kerkhove said the WHO is assessing reports of re-infections.

“We have ample evidence that people who’ve been infected with Omicron are getting infected with BA5. No question about it,” said Gregory Poland, a virologist and vaccine researcher with the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota.

Latest News

COAS says, “We’re very well aware of our protected crossing points.”

Published

6 mins ago

Farwa

Speaking at today’s Cadet Passing Out Parade at Pakistan Air Force Asghar Khan Academy in Risalpur, the Chief of Staff stated that a nation lacking a potent Air Force is vulnerable to any attacker.

He added the Pakistan Air Force patrolled the airspace in all types of challenges with exceptional bravery and professionalism, and February 2019 is a tremendous example for all of us

He questioned the graduating cadets, telling them that they were the source of our optimism, the defender of the sky, and the ensurer of peace in the area. He stated that we anticipate the cadets to lead lives characterized by competence, bravery, and good character.

The graduating cadets, according to General Syed Asim Munir, “will never hesitate to sacrifice for the defense, honor, and dignity of the motherland.”

He added the military leadership wants you to always uphold our nation’s best spirit, professionalism and the undying tradition of valor.

The Army Chief said Article 19 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan clearly establishes the boundaries of freedom of speech and expression of opinion.

Latest News

More new buses arrive in Karachi.

Published

40 mins ago

Farwa

Announcing that the new buses would improve accessible and comfortable transportation options for the public, Sharjeel Inam Memon took to X.

He said that the Sindh transport department would launch additional Peoples Bus Service lines to enhance public transportation options, adding that twenty buses had already arrived at the port.

The public-private partnership (PPP) mechanism would see the conversion of 60 KMC buses to diesel in order to better serve the city’s inhabitants, as stated by Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab a day earlier.

Latest News

Sindh will implement strict measures to uphold law and order: CM

Published

49 mins ago

Farwa

“A thoroughplan has been developed to reduce kidnappings for ransom and street crimes,” stated Murad Ali Shah.

According to him, yesterday’s law and order meeting at the Chief Minister’s residence was presided over by President Asif Ali Zardari.

“CM Shah stated that the president ordered a stepped-up crackdown on drugs and the arrest of bandit facilitators in the Katcha area.”

According to Murad Ali Shah, the president deemed land grabs and encroachment intolerable. He declared: “The president’s orders will be fully implemented by the Sindh government.”

A Nigerian national has been arrested in connection with the drug trade, according to a briefing given by Sharjeel Memon, the provincial minister of excise, taxes, and anti-drug. “There have been 164 cases filed, 166 accused people have been arrested in cases, and three drug dealers have been killed in a crackdown in Hyderabad,”

Strict monitoring at schools to shield kids from drugs was decided upon at the conference.

The chief minister gave the excise department instructions to intensify its war on drugs in coordination with the federal government and other provinces.

Corps Commander Karachi promised to provide the Sindh government complete support in the fight against drugs.