PESHAWAR: In an encouraging sign, Pakistan has witnessed remarkable decrease in the overall coronavirus cases in the country during Eid holidays, and on Friday 1,531 cases were reported. It was first time Pakistan reported less than 2,000 coronavirus infections since March 09, when 1,786 cases were reported.

According to official data provided by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), as many as 30,248 tests were conducted during the last 24 hours, while 83 fatalities were reported. The total number of infections has risen to 874,751 and the death toll stands at 19,467.

The overall positivity ratio has also dropped remarkably to 5.06 percent.

Sindh reported 714 cases and 13 deaths on Friday, Punjab reported 483 cases and 40 deaths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 211 cases and 20 deaths, Islamabad reported 58 cases and three deaths, Balochistan reported 36 cases and five deaths, Azad Jammu and Kashmir reported 26 cases and two deaths, while Gilgit-Baltistan reported three cases. Of the 83 patients who passed away from coronavirus on Friday, 73 had been admitted to hospitals, while 36 were on ventilators.

It is generally believed that the remarkable drop in officially verified coronavirus cases is the result of strict lockdown imposed by the government during Eid holidays as public parks, shopping plazas and hotels besides public transport have been closed. However, widespread violation of corona standard operating procedures (SOPs) was also witnessed in different parts of the country with people not observing precaution while coming out of homes, meeting each other and during Eid prayers despite strict warnings by the government.

The huge picnic spot in Charsadda, Sardaryab was also closed, but thousands of youngsters on motorcycles and rickshaws still tried to reach there and upon closure they diverted to the bank of the river and partied there. There were reports about baton charge by police on unruly picnickers, but still the small number of policemen were not able to control a huge crowd. It is believed that the actual number of corona patients is much higher, but many people prefer not to go for tests and treat the disease at home with routine medicines.