ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported fewer than 100 Covid-19 cases on Sunday, the first time in more than two years and at a time when China and some European countries are battling the pandemic once again.

The number of critical patients has also dropped to 273 and not a single death has been reported across the country for the last eight days. The last time Pakistan reported fewer than 100 cases was on April 1, 2020.

Data released by the National Insti­tu­te of Health (NIH) Pakistan showed 96 Covid cases over the past 24 hours and not a single death. The last pandemic-related death was reported on April 2. It was a marked improvement, especially considering the fact that the country witnessed its highest daily Covid cases just a few months ago — 8,183 cases on Jan 27.

The national positivity rate has also shrunk to 0.37 per cent, and so is the number of patients in critical care, which stood at 273 on Sunday compared to around 6,000 in August.

District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia told Dawn that though a res­ur­gence of Covid cases was under way in different regions, including Chi­na and the European countries, the situation in Pakistan was very much in control.

Published in Dawn, April 11th, 2022