Monday, June 28, 2021
Kabul (BNA) Afghanistan on Sunday once again recorded a high number of daily COVID-19 deaths and positive cases of the virus, despite officials’ optimism over a 1% decline in corona virus infections in the country.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) reported 1,532 new positive cases of COVID-19 and 80 deaths from the virus in the last 24 hours, a daily figure similar to rates in the past weeks.
The ministry said that 4,994 samples were tested in the country’s laboratories in the last 24 hours.
805 recoveries from COVID-19 were also reported in the same period, showing a remarkable increase in the number of those who survive the virus. The number of recoveries was 300 on Saturday and 384 the day before.
The number of total recorded cases in Afghanistan is now 115,615 while the total deaths stand at 4,730 and recoveries at 68,288.
The Ministry of Public Health said Saturday that the Delta variant makes up 50% of COVID-19 infections in the country and it is one of the major reasons behind the sharp rise in coronavirus cases in Afghanistan.
Afghanistan has achieved the capacity to recognize COVID-19 variants, including Delta, the acting minister of public health, Waheed Majroh, said at a press briefing in Kabul.
As an example, he said, out of 19 samples tested in government laboratories, 11 were the Delta variant, while 8 others were the British variant.
Also, the closure of schools and universities was extended for another two weeks on Saturday with health officials warning against people’s negligence toward health advice such as using masks in public places and maintaining social distance.
Afghanistan is due to get a 3-million-dose package of Johnson & Johnson vaccine from the United States that will arrive in the country in the first week of July, the Public Health Ministry said.
Figures by Johns Hopkins University show that the number of deaths from COVID-19 globally is more than 3,918,101 and the number of known global corona virus cases is 180,823,910.
Yarzada
