ISLAMABAD: Over 1,000 people infected with the coronavirus have been moved to critical care units across Pakistan, according to government estimates, due to the Omicron version of the COVID situation worsening.
According to data from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the number of critical patients has increased to 1,055 from 961 a day earlier, with 94 patients deteriorating in the last 24 hours.
The positivity ratio stood at 11.10%, up from 12.93% a day earlier, as 6,540 infections were recorded across the country after 58,902 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, NCOC data showed.
According to the NCOC data, the total number of cases has now reached 1.36 million, taking the total number of deaths to 29,077 with 12 more deaths.
NCOC makes school related decisions
Due to the rise in coronavirus cases, the NCOC on Friday notified that all schools with high COVID-19 positive ratio will remain closed for a week.
In a statement, the NCOC announced that "education institutions, campuses, sections, specific sections with high positivity will remain closed for a week."
According to the notification, the provincial government, in collaboration with district health, education and school administrations, is to define the range of instances to decide such closures.
The notification further said that the provincial administration, in consultation with district health, education authorities and school administrations, shall determine the extent of cases to be followed by such closures.
As a result of the findings, NCOC has taken the following decisions:
- For the next two weeks, aggressive testing will be carried out in educational institutions, especially in cities with high disease prevalence.
- To ensure that all children over the age of 12 are fully vaccinated, federal units will conduct specific vaccination campaigns in schools.