Pakistan on Tuesday has reported 3,270 new cases and 72 COVID-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours.

According to statistics shared by National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center for unified efforts against coronavirus, 39,742 coronavirus tests were taken, 3,270 new confirmed cases were registered, and 72 deaths were reported countrywide in the last 24 hours.

There are currently 34,535 active cases and 2,485 critical patients of COVID-19 admitted at different hospitals in the country.

With these latest statistics, the country's total number of confirmed cases stands at 633,741. Pakistan has so far recorded 13,935 coronavirus-related deaths, and a total of 585,271 patients have recovered from the novel disease.

The current positivity ratio in Pakistan is 8.2%.

NCOC announces strict SOPs for areas with more than 8% positivity amid the third wave:

Keeping in view the surge in coronavirus cases in the country, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on Monday issued renewed standard operating procedures (SOPs) to contain the virus, adding that they would be implemented with immediate effect.

As per the new guidelines issued by the anti-coronavirus watchdog, all businesses will only be allowed to operate five days a week, while all commercial activities will be closed by 8 pm in areas with a positivity ratio greater than 8%.

NCOC chief Asad Umar took to Twitter to issues these new directives. In a tweet, he said:

"In the NCOC meeting this morning we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to a sharp increase in covid positivity. The provincial & ICT administration were also directed to tighten implementation of sop's and a crackdown on violations which are taking place."