At least five deaths were reported due the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, the lowest daily death tally reported since January 23, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data released on Monday.

“Statistics 28 Feb 22: total tests in last 24 hours: 33,357; positive cases: 856; positivity %: 2.56%; deaths: 5; patients on critical care: 1,052,” the NCOC said in a month.

As per NCOC’s daily update and the health ministry’s Covid graph, the country has also witnessed a downward trend in the number of active cases, which as of now stands below 40,000. It also showed that the Covid positivity ratio has fallen below 3% over the last three days.

In view of this, the NCOC on Wednesday revised Covid-related policy for passengers travelling to Pakistan, abolishing pre-boarding negative PCR test for fully vaccinated inbound travellers. "Travellers below 12 years of age are exempt from mandatory vaccination. Passengers travelling to Pakistan between 12 to18 years of age are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31," read a statement.

Despite such developments in the country’s Covid situation, medical experts and the World Health Organization have exhorted the people to follow the standard operating procedures in order to stem the spread of the virus. Moreover, they have also called for wearing masks even if the people have been vaccinated.

The forum, which serves as the nerve centre of the country’s unified efforts to contain the spread of the novel coronavirus, also released the countrywide Covid tally. According to the data, Sindh reported the highest number of Covid cases, with 567,761 infected patients, followed by Punjab (501,370), Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (216,119), Islamabad (134,336), Azad Jammu and Kashmir (42,968), Balochistan (35,326), and Gilgit Baltistan (11,480).

The Economic Coordination Committee on Friday approved Rs450 million worth technical supplementary grant for a health ministry project designed for “effective response” against the Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan.

The project titled ‘strengthening existing capacity for National Institute of Health for effective response against Covid-19 pandemic in Pakistan’ was part of a summary moved by the health ministry during the ECC meeting, which was presided over by Finance Minister Shaukat Tarin.

The ministry had sought to re-purpose the Australian grant towards the preparedness and response plan for Covid-19 for its effective utilisation.

Moreover, the opposition in the past had raised concerns over the Covid-19 funds and demanded of the government to allocate a significant budget for the health sector in fighting the pandemic.