Coronavirus cases cross 3,009 in Pakistan in last 24 hours since July

Asad Umar also urged opposition parties to avoid holding public meetings to curb spread of the deadly coronavirus

Pakistan has reported more than 3,000 daily coronavirus cases and 59 deaths during the last 24 hours. This is the highest daily total of infections the country has reported since July 9.

Covid-19 case positivity ratio has risen to 7.50% which was only 2% when the situation was under control.

Data from the government’s portal to track the spread of the disease in the country shows that 3,009 infections were reported on November 24, taking the national total to 382,892. Meanwhile, with 59 new deaths, the toll has risen to 7,803.

A day earlier, Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar had expressed the fear that the country might face the worst coronavirus situation in two weeks’ time if preventive measures were not strictly adhered to.

“We experienced a peak in Covid-19 cases in June and if we do not follow standard operating procedures (SOPs), we may face the worst situation in the next two weeks,” he said at a joint press conference with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan after a National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting chaired by the premier.

The NCOC made important decisions, endorsing the decision by the education minister regarding educational institutions, ban on indoor dining in restaurants and public gatherings, strict implementation of SOPs and engaging ulema for observance of SOPs in mosques.

Umar also urged opposition parties to avoid holding public meetings to curb spread of the deadly virus and asked all parliamentary parties to attend a meeting of Parliamentary Committee on Covid-19 being held today at the Parliament House.

Although opposition parties have announced that they will not take part in the committee’s meeting, the minister said: “I appeal to all parliamentary parties to attend the meeting because politics will continue but first we have to save the people’s life by unanimously deciding the future line of action to combat coronavirus.”

Umar said the government had started issuing warnings in early October as it had anticipated that the situation would worsen if SOPs were not strictly followed.

“Last three weeks’ data of coronavirus reveals that we are heading towards the earlier worst situation,” he added.

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