COVID-19 surge: Three districts’ COVID-19 positivity rate higher than 20%, Karachi reports 65 cases of Delta variant

By Web Desk On Jul 15, 2021 513

Pakistan has continued to report a significant surge in COVID-19 cases with positivity rate higher than 20% in three districts and Karachi reporting 65 cases of infamous Delta variant.

Ministry for National Health has warned that COVID-19 positivity rate in Gilgit-Baltistan is 23.17%, Muzaffarabad – 21.3% and 21.26% in Skardu.

Meanwhile, Karachi’s COVID-19 positivity rate has been recorded at 19.29% followed ‎by Rawalpindi with 11.97%, Peshawar 9.42% and 6.22% in Islamabad. ‎

Separately, according to Karachi University’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), the metropolis has also recorded 65 cases of Delta variant.

According to the Director of ICCBS Professor Muhammad Iqbal Choudhary, out of 2,062 samples that were tested in the last 24 hours at the institution’s lab, 163 turned out to be COVID-19 positive, out of which 65 carried the Delta variant.

COVID-19 Delta variant rapidly takes off and spreads between people more efficiently than even the Alpha variant that was first detected around December, January 2021. So far, Delta variant has been reported in 96 countries around the world.

Medical experts say that people who are fully vaccinated against the coronavirus appear to have protection against Delta, but anyone who is unvaccinated and not practicing preventive strategies is at risk for infection by the new variant.

Earlier in the day, SAPM on Health – Dr Faisal Sultan hinted on Eid-ul-Azha to being ‘limited’ as government intends to impose stricter restrictions to curb virus spread.

Covid numbers continue to rise

New cases last 24h = 2545
National positivity = 5.2%
City-wise % positivity – Karachi 19%, Peshawar 9.4%, Islamabad 6.2%, Lahore 3.8%

Use masks (even if you are vaccinated)
Avoid crowds
Vaccinate – over 580,000 doses administered yesterday!
— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) July 15, 2021

Addressing the threat posed by Delta variant, SAPM Dr Faisal Sultan apprised that the novel variant is spreading at a pace of 50-60% in the country.

Speaking about the importance of the coronavirus vaccines, Dr Sultan said the present COVID-19 vaccines work on all types of variants of the virus.

Rapid build up starting to take place in covid patients hospital inflow, as well as patients in critical care. This indian variant has caused devastation in countries in the region. Please follow sop's and get vaccinated as soon as possible. Do not risk your own & others lives.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) July 15, 2021

Meanwhile, NCOC chief Asad Umar has also warned against a ‘rapid build up’ of COVID-19 patients across the country as Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate crossed 5% after almost a month Thursday morning today.

Country’s current COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 5.52% with 42,330 active cases.