Pakistan’s National Command and Control Centre (NCOC), the top body to manage the Covid-19 crisis, reimposed restrictions as the country reported more than 2,000 virus cases for the first time since January.

Dawn Pakistan has reported 2,258 cases in the last 24 hours, the first time since 29 January when 2,186 cases were recorded.

Releasing a statement, the NCOC stated that 42,164 tests were conducted on March 10, which translates into a positivity rate of 5.3 percent, while the total number of active cases in the country is 17,627 as of March 11.

It also shared the percentage of ventilators occupied in four major cities across Pakistan. According to the breakdown, Lahore has a rate of ventilator occupancy at 39 percent.

Furthermore, Gujrat city of Punjab province has the highest rate of oxygen beds currently occupied at 94pc, highlighting a worsening situation in the province.