ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has reported 2,517 new COVID-19 cases and 48 related deaths in the last 24 hours as the nation celebrates second day of Eid Al-Fitr amid tight coronavirus restrictions.
According to official statistics compiled by the National Command and Operation Center that oversees the country’s response to the pandemic, Pakistan consistently reported more than 4,000 daily coronavirus infections in the beginning of May, forcing the government to impose a ban on tourism and intercity public transportation to stop the spread of the virus during Eid holidays.
Prior to that, Pakistani authorities also limited the number of business hours for markets across the country, though they exempted grocery stores and pharmacies since they provide essential services to people.
According to the official data, the country reported more than 5,000 cases in the last few days of April. It even recorded 6,127 COVID-19 cases on April 17, creating fears of a major upsurge in the viral infection during Eid holidays when a large number of people travel from one place to another to celebrate the festivity with their loved ones.
The latest number of COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan is also the lowest in the last several weeks. The country recorded more than 200 deaths from the disease on April 27.
Pakistan has recorded 873,220 confirmed coronavirus cases and 19,384 related deaths since the emergence of the pandemic in the country in February 2020.
The government also began it immunization drive in the country in February and hopes to accelerate it further after Eid Al-Fitr.