With the onset of winter, cases of corona virus have also increased in several countries and Pakistan, where the rate of positive cases has been less than one per cent for the last six days, rose to more than one per cent on Thursday.
According to the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), 460 new cases of the disease have been reported in the last 24 hours in the country while 10 patients have died.
Statistics show that for the first time since the outbreak of the corona epidemic in Pakistan in February 2020, less than one per cent (0.94 per cent) positive cases were reported on November 8.
Since November 12, the country has been reporting less than one percent positive cases every day, but Thursday's figures show that the positive case rate was 1.11 percent.
Similarly, the number of cases which was 391 on November 11 decreased to 263 on November 13 and further decreased to 216 on November 15.
However, the number is set to rise again, with data released on Thursday showing that another 460 people have been infected.
The statistics further revealed that the number of active cases of corona in the country is 22,501 out of which 1,087 patients are being treated in hospitals.
Speaking to Dawn, microbiologist Professor Dr Javed Usman said the drop in temperature was the only reason for the increase in the number of corona cases.
"Cases are already on the rise in China, Russia and Europe, Austria is on the brink of a lockdown and this is only happening because winter is approaching," he said.
Regarding the reason for the increase in the spread of the virus in winter, Dr. Javed Usman said that during winter, daylight is short and the number of cases increases due to decrease in temperature.
"In winter, people keep their windows closed and spend more time in a closed place, which increases the duration of inter-human contact and prevents the virus from getting out," he said.
"Lack of ventilation increases the risk of contracting the virus, the symptoms of influenza and corona family are similar and both become more active in the winter," he said.
Referring to Pakistan, Dr. Javed Usman said that winter has come a little early this year due to which there is a sudden increase in Corona cases.
"I would urge the public to adhere strictly to standard procedures and maintain social distance so that the rate of infection can be reduced again."
