ISLAMABAD: As many as 3,369 cases and 72 deaths were reported due to Covid-19 in a single day on Sunday across the country.

The highest positivity ratio was observed in Karachi which was 18.92pc, followed by Peshawar, 18.08pc and Hyderabad, 15.26pc.

The total number of active cases, which surpassed the 50,000 mark last month, has come down to 46,629 while 383,000 people have recovered so far from the disease across the country.

According to data of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), of the 72 patients dying of the disease, 42 were on ventilators.

The data of ventilators showed that in Multan 58pc ventilators were occupied, in Islamabad, 52pc; Lahore, 37pc; and in Peshawar 28pc.

Overall, 353 ventilators were occupied across the country, but there was no patient on ventilator in Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB).

As far as the situation of oxygenated beds was concerned, in Peshawar, 63pc beds were in use, Rawalpindi, 56pc; Multan, 50pc; and Islamabad, 45pc beds.

The NCOC data further revealed that the national positivity ratio was 7.98pc with Karachi showing the highest positivity ratio of 18.92pc, followed by Peshawar 18.08pc; and Hyderabad, 15.26pc.

The data of positivity ratio in various federating units showed that in Sindh it was 12.13pc; Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 11.68pc; Balochistan, 9.3pc, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 8.78pc; Islamabad, 4.68pc; Punjab, 4.39pc; and GB, 1.98pc.

In Punjab, the positivity ratio of Lahore and Rawalpindi was increasing with rapid pace with 5.61pc and 8.19pc, respectively.

The mortality analysis showed so far 8,796 patients had died from the disease and the countrywide mortality rate was 2pc as compared to 2.23pc globally. Moreover, 71pc of deceased were male and 76pc of them were over 50 years old.

Meanwhile, according to a statement of the Ministry of National Health Services, efforts are being made to procure vaccine of Covid-19 at the earliest.

Mr Sajid Shah, a spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services, said that the federal cabinet had approved $150 million for purchase of Covid-19 vaccine and additional funds of $100 million will be arranged by the government after the approval of the federal cabinet as per requirements.

Talking to Dawn, Parliamentary Secretary on NHS Nausheen Hamid said that $150 million had been approved by the Economic Coordination Committee, adding that the Asian Development Bank had also been approached to get an additional amount of $100 million.

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan told Dawn that so far no agreement had been signed with any pharmaceutical company for procurement of the vaccine, but efforts were under way for the purpose.

Published in Dawn, December 14th, 2020