Pakistan's positivity ratio crosses 10% as third wave of COVID-19 grips country

• Pakistan carries out 38,858 tests in the last 24 hours, out of which 3,946 are positive, taking national positivity ratio to 10.15%.
• Total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan rise to 640,988 and the active cases stand at 37,985.
• Pakistan reports 63 deaths, taking nationwide death tally past 14,000.

Pakistan's coronavirus positivity ratio shot on Thursday past 10% and the death toll crossed 14,000 as the country battles a third wave of the virus. 

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said Pakistan carried out 38,858 tests in the last 24 hours, out of which 3,946 returned positive, taking the national positivity ratio to 10.15%.

With the new cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 640,988 and the active cases stand at 37,985.

A breakdown of the total cases showed that 263,815 cases have been detected in Sindh, 205,314 cases in Punjab, 81,787 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 19,395 in Balochistan, 53,684 in Islamabad, 4,977 in Gilgit Baltistan and 12,016 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

Read more: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa confirms UK coronavirus variant cases

In the last 24 hours, the country lost 63 people to the deadly virus, taking the nationwide death tally to 14,028.

So far, 588,975 have recovered from coronavirus after testing positive.

NCOC decides to tighten restrictions amid rising cases

Earlier this week, the NCOC decided to tighten the restrictions given the deteriorating coronavirus situation across the country.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Twitter said: “In the NCOC meeting this morning we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to a sharp increase in COVID-19 positivity.”

Read more: Pakistan schools in coronavirus hotspot areas to stay closed till April 11

The local administrations across the country have been directed to tighten the implementation of SOP's and crack down on violations that are taking place, the minister said.

'Pakistan will not go under complete lockdown'

Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar had dismissed rumours that the country was heading towards a "complete lockdown".

The NCOC chief was speaking to anchor Shahzad Iqbal on Geo News programme Naya Pakistan on Saturday.

The discussion revolved around the rising number of coronavirus cases and the government's response towards it. Rumours of authorities contemplating a "complete lockdown" across the country were discussed.

Read more: Sindh, Punjab may consider shutting schools only in coronavirus hotspots

Responding to a question, the NCOC chief had shot down the rumours.

"Complete lockdown is not the solution," he said. "We tried to explain that to people during the first wave [of the coronavirus] but they did not understand. You cannot shut down the entire country and steal people's livelihoods," added the minister.