ISLAMABAD: Pakistan reported more than 7,000 cases of Covid-19 for the fifth consecutive day on Monday, with the national positivity rate averaging 11.53 per cent.

Data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) showed that 7,048 more infections were reported and 21 people succumbed to the virus during the past 24 hours. The number of patients on critical care stood at 1,423.

According to a document the positivity rate was recorded at over 10pc in 12 cities — Karachi, Hyderabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Bahawalpur, Mirpur, Peshawar, Nowshera, Mardan, Islamabad, Quetta and Muzaffarabad.

Meanwhile, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), a representative body of the medical fraternity, has expressed concern over the consistently high positivity ratio of Covid-19 across the country.

It has also urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to strictly implement standard operating procedures (SOPs) during the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) tournament.

“Although the positivity ratio in Karachi has decreased, it’s still higher. This is all due to our negligence in adopting preventive measures,” the PMA said in a statement issued after a virtual meeting presided over by Dr Salma Aslam Kundi and attended by Dr Qaisar Sajjad, Dr Qazi Wasiq and others.

The PMA said it “enthusiastically welcomes” the international cricket and players in Pakistan, as it helped promote the country’s soft image and provided immense leisure to cricket lovers.

However, the situation being observed during the PSL at Karachi’s National Stadium was “horrifying”, as nobody was seen following the SOPs, the association said.

“Spectators at the stadium are seen without masks and without maintaining social distance. This could worsen the Covid-19 situation and the consequences could lead to the postponement of PSL like the past year,” it said.

The medical association also requested the government to strictly implement the SOPs across the country. “We also request the public to adopt preventive measures, wear masks whenever you go out, keep social distance, wash or sanitise your hands with proper intervals, avoid shaking hands and hugging and avoid going out unnecessarily,” it said.