Pakistan reports lowest number of daily coronavirus deaths

Tariq Butt, Correspondent / AP

Pakistan has reported its lowest number of daily COVID-19 deaths in about a month.

It recorded 40 deaths in the past 24 hours on Thursday, compared to the highest single-day toll of 153 on June 19.

Pakistan has recorded 257,914 confirmed cases, including 2,145 in the past 24 hours, and 5,426 fatalities.

Until weeks ago, Pakistan had witnessed a 20% infection rate as a result of daily testing. It is now less than 10%, but authorities fear another spike if people ignore social distancing during the Muslim holiday of Eid Al Adha, which will be celebrated on July 31.

Meanwhile, the federal government has announced that 1,825 (over 90 per cent) of the 2,000 promised beds equipped with oxygen facility have been provided to hospitals across Pakistan while the remaining ones dedicated for coronavirus patients will be made available soon.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar had promised in June that the government would provide 2,000 beds to hospitals by the end of July, after several hospitals ran short of oxygenated beds amid sudden spike in COVID-19 cases.

The situation deteriorated so much that even a doctor in need of ventilator or oxygenated bed died while being shifted from one hospital to another in Karachi.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) Dr Zafar Mirza expressed the hope that despite the fear of another spike in COVID-19 cases during the upcoming Eid, the satiation would be controlled with strict implementation of the health guideline and precautionary measures.

Dr Mirza said health workers in Pakistan were rendering exemplary services with determination and the reduction in the number of new cases was due to the dutiful health workers.

Tweeting a video message, he said Pakistan’s initiatives for the protection of healthcare workers were being appreciated all over the world and it was noteworthy that despite limited resources, the government had given top priority to the protection of healthcare workers.

He said over 100,000 health workers were being given special training on proper use of personal protective equipment. Under WeCare programme, he said, more than 60,000 health professionals had already been trained in the four provinces, the federal capital, Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

"I appeal to the people to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of their loved ones as well as front line health workers. The official guidelines announced for the occasion of Eid Al Adha should be implemented in letter and spirit. People should use masks during Eid prayers and keep a distance of six feet between them to avoid the spread of COVID-19,” he said.