Tag: coronavirus

  • Are you kidding us, Khan Sahib?

    Are you kidding us, Khan Sahib?

    Coronavirus pandemic has changed the dynamics of the entire world. Self-isolation, a concept most of us are not familiar with, will slowly but surely become necessary in the coming days. As Canadian Prime Minister (PM) Justin Trudeau said, “For a little while, this will be our new normal.”

    But while Trudeau and very few other world leaders, including New Zealand’s Jacinda Ardern, declare war on the pandemic, others, among whom is PM Imran Khan, still don’t appear to be understanding the gravity of the situation at hand.

    Four coronavirus patients have died in Pakistan — three in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and one in Sindh. The number of cases is rapidly increasing (645 in less than a month), and if a nationwide lockdown isn’t put in place, it will continue to rise exponentially.

    After sticking to his mantra of ‘ghabrana nahi hai [don’t panic]’ for the past few days, the premier does no longer seem very sure if the masses should panic or not.

    “Pakistan cannot afford to impose a total lockdown. 25% of the people in the country live below the poverty line,” PM Imran said in his second address to the nation in three days on Sunday. “What will happen to them if I go ahead with the lockdown?”

    The premier added that if the economic situation of the country had been like that of Italy and China, he would have thought about imposing a lockdown. “Let me tell you what a lockdown is. A lockdown means putting a curfew and restricting people to their homes with the military on the streets,” he said.

    The situation escalated in Italy and China, Khan Sahib, evidently because the authorities didn’t impose a lockdown until it was too late.

    Your address to the nation and recent interaction with journalists were not exactly what we had hoped for. We understand you are worried about the poor, the daily wagers, the economy and many other things.

    But…

    After shutting down as much as the provincial governments already have, after the closure of educational institutions and the bearish trend in PSX amid global sell-out on COVID-19 fears, what further closures would a total lockdown entail?

    All international air operations are already closed. Most borders are closed. Wedding halls, shopping malls, restaurants are already shut. Massive unemployment has already been created. Moving towards total lockdown at this stage will presumably have a very little marginal impact.

    Is it paralysis of analysis which appears to be the hallmark of decision-making behind closed doors in Islamabad for quite some time now?

    In case of a total lockdown, what matters the most is taking care of the neglected segments of society – that they keep on receiving life support cash allowances or food aid. For starters, 50% of the budget of both civil and defence annual development programmes should be placed in a welfare account for such activities.

    Welfare… isn’t that what you promised, Khan Sahib?

    We know that a lockdown or delaying a lockdown is akin to be caught between a rock and a hard place. We understand that this is an immensely difficult and unforeseen situation but the government must act fast.

    Let’s learn from the mistakes made by countries that are the worst-hit by the new coronavirus, and try not to repeat them. 

    Lockdown does not mean that coronavirus cases will end, but it will definitely flatten the curve. This is what Pakistan needs to do. Our healthcare facilities are not equipped to deal with the impending crisis.

  • Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs open hotels to NHS staff free of charge to deal with coronavirus outbreak

    Gary Neville and Ryan Giggs open hotels to NHS staff free of charge to deal with coronavirus outbreak

    Former Man United footballer Gary Neville has announced that the two hotels he part-owns with former Manchester United team-mate Ryan Giggs will be made available free of charge to NHS workers.

    National Health Service (NHS) is the publicly funded healthcare system in England, and one of the four National Health Service systems in the United Kingdom. It is the largest single-payer healthcare system in the world.

    Hotel Football, located near Old Trafford, and The Stock Exchange in the city centre are owned by the pair through their GG Hospitality group.

    It comes after Premier League club Chelsea offered NHS workers free accommodation for the next two months at the Millennium Hotel at its Stamford Bridge ground to help with the COVID-19 outbreak.

    The cost of the rooms will be covered by club owner Roman Abramovich.

    Neville said he and Giggs will do the same, with the scheme in place from Friday onwards in order to help accommodate medical workers during the coronavirus crisis.

    “Over the last week we have been in consultation with the health services in the Greater Manchester area, in particular the Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust,” Neville said in a video posted on social media.

    “Our 176 beds will be occupied by National Health Service workers and medical professionals from Friday onwards.

    “It’s at this time that I think the whole of our industry needs to show solidarity, not just for our staff in these uncertain times but obviously for those who need the accommodation most in the coming months.

    “It’s something we’re delighted to have come into agreement with. It will operate free of charge and our staff will operate the hotels as normal.

    “The health workers will be able to stay there without any cost whatsoever in these next few months when they need isolation away from family members who may be affected by what’s going on.

    “Stay safe and we wish everybody all the best.”

    Chelsea said in its statement on Wednesday: “Many of the medical staff will be working long shifts and may not be able to travel home or would otherwise have to make long commutes. Local accommodation helps maintain the health and well-being of these crucial personnel at this critical time.

    “This will be for a two-month period, and then reconsidered in light of circumstances at the time. NHS staff will be those working in hospitals in the North-West London region, but that may extend to hospitals in other districts.”

    It added: “The number of rooms utilised will depend on demand but potentially all the rooms in the Millennium Hotel could be given over for this purpose. No staff showing symptoms will use the hotel.

    “Millennium Hotels and Resorts, who manage the hotel, are supportive and assisting the club in providing this service to the NHS.”

  • COVID-19: Doctors accuse govt of providing free test kits to Shaukat Khanum but not public hospitals

    As the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — continues to spread in Punjab, Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) has accused the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government of providing free test kits to Shaukat Khanum Hospital but not public sector hospitals.

    Addressing a press conference in Lahore, YDA office demanded safety kits for the entire staff of hospitals dealing with suspected coronavirus patients, including doctors, nurses and paramedics, and termed the arrangements made by the government as insufficient.

    They said that the safety kits provided to the doctors in hospitals were not according to the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and they were working under highly vulnerable circumstances. “The N95 masks are not available in the hospitals despite the fact that the staff treating [COVID-19] patients used the same mask in all hospitals worldwide,” the doctors said.

    President of YDA Punjab Dr Salman Haseeb Chaudhry said that the isolation wards should be established outside the hospitals according to the guidelines of the WHO. “The isolation wards inside the hospitals are high risk,” he said, adding that there was an urgent need of 4,500 ventilators in hospitals to deal with the pandemic but unfortunately Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid had “failed miserably to deal with it”.

    He also accused the government of providing free test kits to Shaukat Khanum Hospital.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    “But public sector hospitals are unable to get the same by the government.”

    According to Dr Salman, all doctors, nurses and paramedics were working in very vulnerable circumstances without proper safety kits and Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan would be responsible if any unfortunate incident took place.

    Meanwhile, The Express Tribune quoted an official of Shaukat Khanum Hospital as saying that around two dozen citizens approached the hospital for free coronavirus test, of whom the hospital management has conducted tests of eight or nine individuals who had recent travel history, while the remaining citizens were sent back after prescribing medicines.

    He said that the hospital had a limited number of coronavirus test kits that cannot be used for every citizen who has doubt of the infection. Responding to a question, he indicated that the government has notified coronavirus test rate of Rs7,900 but it is being conducted free of cost.

    A representative of a laboratory disclosed that it also has a coronavirus test facility against payment of Rs7,900 as notified by the government. However, several citizens complained that some private hospitals were charging over Rs9,000 for the same test.

    It is pertinent to note that that government has notified 14 laboratories for coronavirus tests, one of which is Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Lahore.

  • DC Hafizabad is winning the internet with his coronavirus song

    DC Hafizabad is winning the internet with his coronavirus song

    While some of us are freaking out about the coronavirus outbreak, others are using this as an opportunity to bring out their creative side.

    Deputy Commissioner Hafizabad Naveed Shahzad recently released an song in which he attempts to create awareness about the coronavirus and the necessary precautions to take. Shahzad has won desi Twitter with his song.

    While we all enjoyed DC Sahab’s song, it seems a tad bit inspired by an Indian singer Tejas Gambhir.

  • Maya Ali opens up about being tested for COVID-19

    Maya Ali opens up about being tested for COVID-19

    With cases of coronavirus on the rise around the globe, governments and people are stepping up their efforts to control the spread of the virus as much as possible.

    Maya Ali, who was recently in the United States for charity events, took to social media to share that she recently took the coronavirus test and thankfully it was negative. She shared that while she waited for her results, she was filled with stress and anxiety and urged people to take the threat seriously and take all the necessary precautions.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B94WNnxiHIw/

    Earlier Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui also shared that they were going into self-isolation after they returned from their trip to the US.

    Read more – Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Meanwhile, celebrities are requesting their fans and followers to practise self-isolation in order to prevent the virus from spreading.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B9538C2nlZk/
    https://www.instagram.com/p/B96gGeyJZb-/
  • Coronavirus: Provinces asked to convert top hotels into quarantine centres

    Coronavirus: Provinces asked to convert top hotels into quarantine centres

    The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has asked provinces to convert all 3 and 4-star hotels into quarantine centres in the fight against the new coronavirus, ARY reported.

    According to reports, the NDMA has written a letter to the federal interior secretary and all four provincial chief secretaries in this regard.

    The move comes after Pakistan witnessed an increase in COVID-19 cases over the ongoing week.

    In the letter, the NDMA has said it is necessary to take preventative measures against the coronavirus as per World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines.

    The hotels will be made into quarantine centres with one person in one room, the report said.

    It merits a mention here that the number of novel coronavirus cases in Pakistan has surged to 341 with two confirmed deaths in Mardan and Hangu.

    Meanwhile, the number of recovered patients in Pakistan stands at three.

  • Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, who were recently in the United States of America for Meray Paas Tum Ho ‘Meet and Greets’, are self-quarantining themselves upon their return home.

    In a Twitter exchange with Vasay Chaudhry, Humayun said that instead of going home, he and Adnan [Siddiqui] will self-isolate for a few days.

    Vasay wished his friend luck.

    With more than 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Pakistan, the government and health experts are requesting people to practise social distancing and self-isolation in order to control the spread of the highly contagious virus. Many companies have allowed their staff to work from home and large gatherings have been strictly prohibited.

  • VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    Urging the nation to show unity in the persisting difficult time, President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need to form a China-like volunteer force in Pakistan to fight the new coronavirus.

    President Alvi, in a video message, said China has fought the coronavirus pandemic on the national-level and formed a force of volunteers which was also needed in Pakistan.

    He said that people must unite to face the challenge instead of panicking, and asked clerics to raise awareness regarding COVID-19. The president also asked media houses to play their role in spreading awareness so that people adopt prevention measures.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The president said that China was facing isolation and extreme criticism from the West over the spread of coronavirus, but, he added, the Chinese leadership has appreciated Pakistan for exhibiting full confidence in Beijing and not bringing back students.

    He admitted that the Pakistani students, who had shown concerns over not being repatriated from China, studying in 15 different universities in the virus-hit country had also now changed their opinion after being looked after by Chinese authorities in a better way.

    “I have thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping over taking good care of them [Pakistani students in Wuhan/Hubei].”

    He also said the Chinese exhibited great resilience and unity against COVID-19 pandemic and Pakistan should learn from their experience to combat the disease.

    The president added that during his trip to the erstwhile epicentre of the virus, he held hours-long discussions with the Chinese leadership over effective measures adopted by Beijing to contain COVID-19.

  • What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    Thousands of people every day are being tested for coronavirus across the globe. But what does that testing entail? Do patients need to supply urine or blood samples for the diagnosis or a simple swab with suffice?

    Experts say the testing process is quite simple and quick. Patients have a swab – think of it as a long Q-tip – inserted through their nose or throat. The nose and the back of the throat are the two sites where the virus replicates. The swabs pick up those cells where the virus might be.

    Once the sample is taken, it is put into a sterile container and sent to a lab, where a chemical is used to pull the cells off the swab and turn the sample into a liquid form.

    That liquid is then put into a machine that goes through hot and cold cycles to make multiple copies of the virus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA), which carries genetic information. The machine looks to match the person’s RNA with the coronavirus RNA to determine a positive or negative result.

    Read more – Where to get yourself tested for coronavirus in Pakistan

    Who should get the test?

    Only people who have recent travel history (or contact with someone who traveled) or have symptoms like cough or fever.

    CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    When to get the test?

    The test turns positive 5-7 days after exposure. So if someone has travelled recently, please practise social distancing if you can’t self-quarantine. And definitely stay away from your elders who are at the highest risk from the illness. Wait a few days before getting the test.

    For live updates on the coronavirus, follow our The Current’s live blog here.

  • ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    With the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — making its way to Punjab and leaving at least 33 infected, people are criticising the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar-led administration for “lagging behind other provinces” such as Sindh where strict measures are being taken by the provincial government to contain the pandemic.

    Amid accusations of what people say is the “inability” of the Punjab government to take the global pandemic seriously, Dawn has quoted CM Buzdar as asking experts that “how does coronavirus bite”.

    LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus in Pakistan

    “A few days ago Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar received a detailed briefing on coronavirus from relevant experts and officials. The purpose was to provide him all the information he required as the chief executive of the largest province, so he could make the right decisions. At the end of the briefing, the chief minister asked a question innocently: ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai? (how does this corona bite)?’,” the report by the English daily’s resident editor, Fahd Husain, claimed.

    It further said that “nothing could better illustrate the state of affairs in Punjab today than this simple question asked by the head of the province about a crisis that has nothing simple about it”.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus: Is Buzdar administration failing Punjab?

    “The gap between the magnitude of the challenge that COVID-19 has thrown and the scale of the response so far is wider than anyone would like to imagine. The reasons are far more numerous than the capacity issues of one provincial chief minister,” the report said.

    While the national tally of infections for now stands at 302 with at least two fatalities, globally, 158 countries have been affected, nearly 7,000 people have died and more than 190,000 are infected by COVID-19.

    The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.