Pakistan reported on Friday over 7,000 Covid-19 cases in a single day, its highest daily number of infections since the pandemic began, as the south Asian nation imposes new restrictions to curb the fast-spreading omicron variant.

At least 7,678 cases in the past 24 hours pushed the positivity ratio to 12.93 per cent, the highest ever in the last two years, 23 deaths were also reported in the last 24 hours, according to data from the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which is overseeing the pandemic response.

Karachi recorded its highest ever positivity ratio of 46.58 per cent in the last 24 hours.

“Amid rising trend of disease across the country a ban on indoor dining in cities/districts with positivity above 10 per cent has been imposed with effect from January 21,” said a notification.