An almost threefold increase in fresh cases of Covid-19 has been witnessed in the country as 1,436 new cases were reported nationwide on Sunday. At least 25 corona patients lost their life on Saturday due to the deadly virus among which 24 were under treatment in hospitals and one was out of hospital, according to the latest update issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). No Covid-affected person is on ventilator in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Balochistan, while 148 ventilators occupied elsewhere in Pakistan, out of 1,854 allocated for Covid-19 patients. Some 32,350 tests were conducted across the country on Saturday, including 9,995 in Sindh, 10,802 in Punjab, 4,008 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 6,290 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 423 in Balochistan, 417 in GB, and 415 in AJK. Around 318,417 people have recovered from the disease so far across the country making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients. Since the pandemic spread, a total of 343,189 cases were detected so far, including 4,703 from AJK, 16, 055 from Balochistan, GB 4,358, ICT 21,557, KP 40,397, Punjab 106,577 and Sindh 149,542. About 6,968 deaths were recorded in country since the eruption of the contagion, including 2,679 from Sindh among 12 of them died in hospital on Saturday, 2,407 in Punjab seven of them died in hospital and one out of hospital on Saturday, 1,288 in KP, 238 in ICT among two of them died in hospital on Saturday, 154 in Balochistan one of them died in hospital on Saturday, 93 in GB and 109 in AJK two of them died in hospital on Saturday due to Covid-19. A total of 4,676,263 corona tests have been conducted so far, while 735 hospitals are equipped with Covid facilities. Some 1,067 corona patients were admitted in hospitals across the country. Sindh has reported 627 new cases of the novel coronavirus, raising the provincial tally to 150,169. Moreover, the statement issued by the Chief Minister’s House confirmed the deaths of five more persons during the last 24 hours. The death toll now stands at 2,684. The statement added that 14,343 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, resulting in a positivity rate of 4.4%. Islamabad has reported 255 new coronavirus cases, marking the fifth straight day the capital recorded more than 200 daily infections. It has also reported two more deaths. The number of cases in Islamabad has risen to 21,557 while deaths have reached 238. Gilgit-Baltistan has recorded 15 new cases while Azad Jammu and Kashmir has confirmed 51, taking their tallies to 4,358 and 4,703, respectively. AJK has also reported two more fatalities, taking the total number of deaths in the region to 109. The government’s database on coronavirus shows that 519 more people have recovered in Pakistan, taking the country’s total number of recoveries to 318,417. According to the database, 921 virus patients are in critical condition. The Covid-19 claimed eight more lives in Punjab, while 369 new cases of coronavirus were reported on Sunday. According to the spokesperson of the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, the number of coronavirus cases in the province reached 106,577, while so far the total number of deaths in the province recorded as 2,407 altogether. The Punjab health department conducted 1,670,914 tests for Covid-19 so far, while 97,614 confirmed cases recovered altogether in the province. The Punjab health department urged the masses to follow SOPs for their protection and cover their faces with masks. The Islamabad administration on Sunday has decided to impose smart lockdown in five sectors of Islamabad after surge in coronavirus cases. According to details, a notification in this regard has been sent to DC while health teams have also been formed for medical assistance. The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has issued new guidelines for wedding ceremonies which will be implemented in certain cities from November 20. Guidelines will be implemented in seven cities of Punjab, two of Sindh, one of Balochistan and one of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. According to details, the NCOC has imposed a ban on indoor weddings in Pakistan in its bid to curb the spread of coronavirus. Only outdoor marriages allowed with upper limit of 1,000 persons according to the NCOC notification. Canopy tent use is banned, buffet dinner or lunch is closed, food will be given in boxes, while table service will be allowed. Every guest must wear mask and the host will also provide a sanitizer according to the new guidelines.