The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Directorate General Health Services has asked authorities concerned to ensure all necessary arrangements at health facilities in the province to combat a rising number of Covid-19 cases.

The directives were issued in a letter addressed to hospital directors at medical teaching institutes, district health officers and medical superintendents at DHQ hospitals.

"The second wave of the pandemic started in Pakistan in October 2020 with an increase in the number of cases and hospital admissions reported on a daily basis. In KP, the positivity rate is 2.74 per cent on average for the last 10 days with more than 3pc in seven districts," the letter said.

"It is a well established fact from the evidence that a proactive approach is required to deal effectively with any unforeseen burden of disease due to Covid-19. In this context, all existing units/healthcare facilities need to be prepared, strengthened and kept ready in terms of arrangements," it added.