Pakistan reported more than 4,000 Covid-19 cases for the second straight day, amid the fifth wave of coronavirus, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Sunday.

A total of 51,236 tests were conducted in Pakistan during the last 24 hours, of which 4,027 came back positive, while the country's positivity ratio was recorded at 7.8%.

On Saturday, Pakistan reported 4,286 coronavirus cases, the highest since August 25, while the country's positivity ratio was recorded at 8.16%, also the highest since August 11.

So far, Pakistan has confirmed 1,324,147 cases out of which Sindh has reported 499,830, Punjab (452,261), KPK (182,199), and Balochistan has recorded 33,699 infections.

Overall, Islamabad has confirmed 110,963 infections, GB (10,445) and AJK has reported 34,750 positive cases.

The death toll has risen to 29,012 after nine people succumbed to the novel coronavirus during the last 24 hours.

The recoveries from coronavirus have reached 1,263,584 after 579 more people recovered from the virus. Meanwhile, there are 752 critical cases.

On Friday, Pakistan decided to allow booster shots for children aged over 18 as authorities scramble to control the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, the NCOC has imposed a complete ban on the inflight serving of meals from January 17, 2022.

NCOC to review Covid SOPs for education sector on Jan 17

Amid the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday called a meeting of all provincial education ministers on January 17 to discuss the existing Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in the education sector.

The announcement was made at an NCOC meeting.

Pakistan has been witnessing a fifth wave of the coronavirus with the spread of the new Omicron variant.

Pakistan reported another 4,286 coronavirus cases on January 14, the highest since August 25 when it recorded 4,553 infections, while the country's positivity ratio was recorded at 8.16% during the last 24 hours, also the highest since August 11.

The forum also imposed a complete ban on the inflight serving of meals from January 17, 2022.

"The Civil Aviation Authority has been instructed to ensure all passengers and crew wear masks during flight," a statement issued by the NCOC said.

“Implement COVID SOPs at all airports,” it added.

Moreover, the serving of meals and snacks in public transport across the country has also been banned.

The NCOC has directed the federating units to take strict measures against violators of existing SOPs and ensure enforcement of obligatory vaccination regimes.

Provinces have been asked to carry out immediate surveys of health care facilities, including oxygenated beds, oxygen stocks, and other reserves.

Earlier in the day, the Sindh government ruled out closing educational institutions, a decision that comes amid the ongoing fifth wave of coronavirus in the country.

The decision comes as Karachi's positivity ratio reached 35.30%. The Sindh health department said 430 infections of the Omicron variant have been detected in Karachi.

The story was originally published in Business Recorder on January 16, 2022.