Pakistan’s coronavirus trajectory continued to show a downward trajectory on Sunday, with less than 2,000 Covid-19 cases reported over the last 24 hours for a second consecutive day in a row, according to the National Command and Operation Centre’s data on Sunday.

“Statistics 20 Feb 22: total tests in last 24 hours: 49,866; positive cases: 1,644; positivity %: 3.29%; deaths: 33; patients on critical care: 1,386,” the NCOC said in a tweet.

The latest Covid update showed that the country’s Covid situation was getting better as compared to previous data of the NCOC. However, medical experts – including the World Health Organisation – have always stressed the need for following Covid protocol even if the people are vaccinated.

The countrywide tally showed that Sindh reported the maximum number of Covid cases, 563,967, followed by Punjab (498,724), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (214,698), Islamabad (133,764), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (42,599), Balochistan (35,229), and Gilgit Baltistan (11,339).

Moreover, the country has also administered as many as 200 million doses of Covid vaccines, which has been termed as a “milestone” by the government and won praise from medical experts and the WHO.

The NCOC, which serves as the centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of novel coronavirus, vaccine statistics showed Pakistan was close to meeting the 200 million vaccine administration mark. The government on February 1 started the first phase of a “massive” two-week-long door-to-door vaccination campaign countrywide to inoculate more than 35 million people as part of the country’s efforts to get ‘rid of the virus’ and return to normalcy.

Moreover, the citywide coronavirus situation was still under observation as the NCOC has not lifted the coronavirus-induced restrictions that were extended on February 15 in cities with more than 10% Covid positivity ratio.

“Curbs will remain in place in six cities where the positivity rate is more than 10 per cent that includes Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mardan, Karachi, Hyderabad, and Peshawar,” read their statement.

The forum had carried out a detailed stock of the disease situation and the non-pharmaceutical interventions currently being enforced.

“In view of improved disease trends, NPIs are being eased out for cities with less than 10 per cent positivity,” the statement read, adding that indoor and outdoor gatherings have been allowed in such cities (having Covid positivity ratio less than 10%) with a maximum limit of 300 and 500 fully vaccinated individuals. Similar rules have also been applied to weddings.

“Indoor and outdoor dining has been allowed for fully vaccinated individuals, while takeaway has been allowed around the clock. Gyms, cinemas, shrines and amusement parks will be open for fully vaccinated individuals. All forms of sports have also been allowed for fully jabbed citizens,” it added.

The statement further read that schools would remain open for all students with Covid protocols.