By News Desk
ISLAMABAD: Planning minister Asad Umar on Sunday urged citizens aged 50 years or above to get vaccinated against the coronavirus as Pakistan’s positivity ratio moved past the 4 per cent mark, and revealed just a fifth that “most vulnerable” age group has received at least one dose of the vaccine.
The minister tweeted that Pakistan has 27.2 million people who are 50 years or older, and warned: “This age group is the most vulnerable to serious health effect of Covid.”
Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said so far, 5.6 million or 20.6 per cent of these had received at least one dose of vaccine. “Please encourage all in this age group to vaccinate as soon as possible,” he added.
His remarks come as Pakistan’s active cases jumped to 37,499 after 1,980 more people tested positive for the virus, 70 of whom were admitted to hospitals in critical condition in the 24 hours leading to Sunday. Twenty-seven people died in the same period.
Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity ratio was recorded at 4.09 per cent, the highest infection rate since May 30. As of Sunday, a total 2,390 patients were hospitalised with Covid across the country, 211 of whom were on ventilators.
The four cities with the highest vents occupancy rates are Bahawalpur 18 per cent, Lahore 17 per cent, Islamabad 15 per cent and Multan 13 per cent. Oxygen beds, meanwhile, saw highest use Skardu 67 per cent, Swabi 38 per cent, Gilgit 36 per cent and Karachi 32 per cent. A total of 973,284 cases have been detected so far, while the death toll stands at 22,582.
Meanwhile, Balochistan has ordered the closure of markets on Friday after cases in the province experienced a surge in cases. In a separate development, 22 travellers from Afghanistan tested positive on their arrival to Karachi, Geo News reported. Among them are one woman and four children. The health ministry said they have all been moved into quarantine. In another alarming development, around 20 cases of Delta Covid-19 variant were reported during the last 24 hours in the district, Rawalpindi authorities said in a statement released to state media as it called upon people to get themselves vaccinated and adhere to safety guidelines.