ISLAMABAD: Punjab on Sunday reported twice as many coronavirus deaths, as compared to Sindh.

According to the data released by the National Command and Operation Centre, 24 people lost their lives in Punjab, 12 in Sindh, 11 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in Islamabad, two in Azad Kashmir and one in Balochistan.

The number of deaths across the country surged to 10,311 while active cases across the country reached 35,663.

As many as 2,272 cases were reported on Sunday. At least 2,284 patients were in critical condition.

While 307 ventilators were in use across Pakistan, 44 per cent of them in Islamabad 44pc, 42pc in Multan, 35pc in Lahore and 32pc in Peshawar. 58pc of oxygen beds were in use in Peshawar, 35pc in Islamabad, 33pc in Karachi and 32pc in Multan.

The national positivity ratio was 5.12pc, highest 15.69pc ratio was observed in Mirpur, 12.13pc in Peshawar and 11.27pc in Karachi .

Positivity ratio in Balochistan was 9.02pc, Sindh 7.23pc, AJK 6.16pc, KP 4.65pc, Punjab 4.16pc, Islamabad 3.12pc and Gilgit-Baltistan 1.11pc.

Mortality rate in Pakistan was 2.12pc against 2.17pc globally.

Moreover, in Pakistan 69pc males have been infected and 77.5pc were above the age of 50 years, 73pc had chronic comorbidities, 91pc of deceased remained hospitalised and 57pc of hospitalised patients were on ventilators.

The virus was detected in China in December 2019.

Pakistan had closed its borders and took a number of steps to stop the transmission. The first case of Covid-19 was reported in Pakistan in the last week of February.

On March 13, the first meeting of the National Security Committee was held to discuss the crisis. The World Health Organisation declared the disease a pandemic the same month.

Published in Dawn, January 4th, 2021