ISLAMABAD: While as many as 1,329 more people have been infected with coronavirus in a single day, the total number of active cases has dropped to 24,466.

According to data issued by the Nati­onal Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Sunday, 1,329 cases and 38 deaths were reported in a single day.

While 252 ventilators were in use by Covid-19 patients across Pakistan, Lahore’s 38 per cent ventilators had been allocated to the patients. And Islamabad’s 35pc, Multan’s 27pc and Peshawar’s 26pc vents were occupied.

The data regarding beds with oxygen showed that Gujrat’s 61pc, Peshawar’s 35pc, Lahore’s 24pc and Mirpur’s 23pc beds were in use.

The data further showed that the number of active cases was 24,466 as of Feb 21 and 2,053 pati­ents were admitted to hospitals.

The number of total active cases, which surpassed 50,000 mark in November last year, has dropped. This is the second time that the number of cases has been dropping. During the first wave of the pandemic, active cases surpassed the figure of 50,000 in June 2020 but later started decreasing and finally dropped to less than 6,000 in September last year.

Then again the number of cases started increasing and on Oct 27, 2020 the number of active patients reached 11,190 and on Nov 18 rose to 30,362 due to which the government officially announced the second wave of the pandemic. In December last year the number of active cases surpassed the figure of 50,000 and then again started decreasing.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021