Of late, Pakistan has been seeing a significant surge in the number of new coronavirus cases being reported daily.

• In the last 24 hours, 2,701 new cases were detected in the country. Yesterday's tally of newly confirmed infections proved to be the highest in almost two months as the last time country reported 2,700+ new cases in a day was on 14th January.

As per reports, the country is going through the third wave of viral infection and the worrisome part is that the United Kingdom variant of SARS-CoV2 is reported to be the dominant strain infecting masses in the country these days. This variant travels faster and has a higher mortality rate. These reports were confirmed today by the Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar who also leads the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC).

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, the latest COVID-19 situation of Pakistan is as follows:

•Total cases reported to date have reached 600,198.

•41,133 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours out of which 2,701 returned positive.

•Positivity ratio has soared to 6.5% in the past 24 hours.  

•Total deaths reported to date have reached at least 13,430.

•Number of Covid-deaths reported in the past 24 hours is 53.

•The number of patients who have successfully recovered from the deadly viral infection is 568,065.

•Active cases currently present in the country is 18,703.

•The number of critically ill patients who are hospitalized currently across Pakistan is 1,709.