ISLAMABAD: While the number of Covid-19 cases has been declining across the globe, Pakistan on Monday reported the lowest number of cases and positivity rate during the ongoing year.

According to an expert, it seems that the pandemic is heading towards its natural end and unless a new variant emerges, it may remain in the world as a type of influenza in future.

Data shared by the National Com­mand and Operation Centre on Monday showed that 482 people tested positive and six died due to Covid-19 over the last 24 hours.

Earlier, lower than 482 cases were reported on October 11 last year when 385 people were infected in the country.

Lowest number of cases reported

Similarly, national positivity of cases was reported at 1.18 per cent which is the lowest positivity rate so far this year.

The country has been reporting less than 2pc positivity for over two weeks.

While occupancy of ventilators had reached over 80pc in some areas of the country in the past, on Monday less than 18pc ventilators allocated for Covid-19 patients were in use across the country, apart from Multan where 41pc ventilators were in use. Overall 166 ventilators were in use across the country.

The number of active cases, which was around 90,000 in August, stood at 22,545 as of November 1. Moreover, 1,394 patients were admitted to hospitals across the country.

Microbiologist Professor Dr Javaid Usman told Dawn that apart from the United Kingdom, coronavirus infections were on decline in most of the countries and the world had started opening up for economic, social and religious activities.

“The United Arab Emirates has been opened. Same is the case with China, Iran, Turkey and a number of other countries. Saudi Arabia has opened Haramain Sharifain and religious activities have resumed,” he said.

“It seems that the pandemic has completed its natural cycle and unless a new variant appears, it will be completely eradicated or will settle like in the form of influenza,” he said. “As a result, only elderly people will require to get a shot of vaccine at the start of winter season.”

Dr Usman said that immuno-compromised people, of any age, might also require a dose of Covid vaccine in future.

“However, we should hope that the virus would be eradicated without being converted into a new and lethal variant on which all vaccines would become ineffective. The current progress has been achieved because of the vaccination as a large number of people have been vaccinated across the globe,” he said.

Published in Dawn, November 2nd, 2021