ISLAMABAD: As the second wave of coronavirus continues to gain momentum in the country, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) was informed on Friday that more than 3,000 cases were recorded for the third consecutive day, with the highest rate of positive cases reported in Peshawar.

Meanwhile, in a bid to contain panic in the country, the electronic media regulator has directed satellite TV channels and FM radios to spread optimism among the viewers and listeners. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) issued a directive appreciating the efforts made by the electronic media for creating awareness among the masses about Covid-19 during the first wave.

“[As] second wave of the pandemic is intensifying these days, electronic media licensees are again requested to highlight precautionary measures/standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government about Covid-19,” Pemra said, adding that TV channels and FM radios may promote optimism among the viewers and listeners to fight the pandemic with perseverance and discipline.

54 people lose their lives; TV channels, FM radios asked to spread optimism to fight pandemic with perseverance

It said people may be educated about precautionary measures such as maintaining social distancing, wearing mask, avoiding handshakes, etc, through public awareness campaigns produced indigenously by the media houses or shared by departments/ministries concerned.

Pemra directed the electronic media to telecast data given by health professionals along with efforts being made by the federal and provincial governments.

A meeting of the NCOC was informed that 3,113 people had tested positive for Covid-19 during the last 24 hours. Peshawar witnessed the highest positivity rate of over 19 per cent, followed by Karachi (17.73pc), Quetta (9.77pc), Islamabad (5.8pc) and Lahore (4.52pc).

The highest number of tests in terms of population was conducted in Islamabad. The federal capital has more than two million residents and out of 7,228 tests, 425 were found positive for the virus.

The NCOC was informed that 43,214 tests were conducted across the country on Thursday — 18,198 in Punjab, 10,585 Sindh, 4,899 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,030 Balochistan, 312 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 908 in Azad Kashmir. As a result of these tests, 3,113 people tested positive for coronavirus. Fifty-four people lost their lives to Covid-19 during the last 24 hours — 22 in Punjab, 19 in Sindh, eight in Islamabad, two in KP and one each in Balochistan, AJK and GB.

On Friday, 276 ventilators were occupied across the country, out of 1,772 allocated for Covid-19 patients. There was no patient on vent in AJK, GB and Balochistan.

According to the NCOC, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country stood at 45,533 on Friday.

Since March this year, a total of 389,311 cases of coronavirus have been detected across the country, with the highest number in Sindh at 168,783, followed by Punjab (117,160), KP (46,281), Islamabad (28,980), Balochistan (17,008), AJK (6,501) and GB (4,598).

The country has so far reported 7,897 deaths, while 335,881 people have recovered. The highest number of 2,945 deaths has been reported from Punjab, followed by 2,885 in Sindh, 1,346 in KP, 305 in Islamabad, 165 in Balochistan, 155 in AJK and 96 in GB.

Published in Dawn, November 28th, 2020