Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

  • Covid-19 in men: ‘Could make it hard to perform in the bedroom’

    As per a report quoted by WebMD, it is suspected by doctors that, “Covid-19 could make it hard for men to perform in the bedroom”. The study was published in the World Journal of Men’s Health.

    According to the study, Covid-19 can linger in the penis and can cause impotence. Researchers found coronavirus particles in penile tissue samples taken from two former COVID-19 patients who had became impotent after getting infected from coronavirus.

    “We found that the virus affects the blood vessels that supply the penis, causing erectile dysfunction,” said senior researcher Dr Ranjith Ramasamy, director of the reproductive urology program at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine.

    “The blood vessels themselves malfunction and are not able to provide enough blood to enter the penis for an erection,” he added.

    “We think the penis also could be affected in a similar way,” Ramasamy said. “We don’t think this is a temporary effect. We think this could be permanent.”

    Two recovered COVID-19 patients who are undergoing penile prosthesis surgery for their erectile dysfunction, had normal erectile function prior to their infections.

  • Govt to start vaccinating people above 30 from tomorrow

    Head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has announced that the government will start vaccinating people above the age of 30 from tomorrow (May 22).

    “In today’s NCOC meeting, it has been decided to open up vaccination for 30 years and older starting tomorrow,” said Umar in a tweet.

    “The messages for those who are being scheduled will go out today,” he added.

    The NCOC on May 21 announced that on May 20,194,421 vaccines were administered across Pakistan and the total number of vaccine administration is 5,151,043, till now.

    Pakistan’s vaccination drive began on March 10 with priority given to healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60. Later, vaccinations for those aged 50-59 started on April 21 and the registration for ages 40-49 started on April 27, and on May 16, the the registration for 30 plus commenced.

    Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Health Services also released a vaccine safety profile to encourage people to get themselves vaccinated. As per the details, out of 3.8 million doses, only 4, 329 reports of side effects were received as of 15 May.

    Furthermore, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Faisal Sultan in a tweet stated that only six serious events of the vaccine has been reported.

  • Schools to reopen in districts with less than 5% covid positivity ratio: NCOC

    The National Command and Operations Centre on Wednesday allowed the reopening of schools in districts with less than five per cent coronavirus positivity ratio.

    The meeting reviewed the ongoing situation of coronavirus in the country.

    Key decisions

    From May 24, outdoor restaurants will be opened daily till 11:59 pm, and takeaway will be allowed 24/7.

    The tourism sector will be allowed to operate under strict coronavirus protocols.

    Outdoor marriage ceremonies with a limit of 150 individuals will be permitted.

    Opening of educational institutions from June 7 (other than those opened from May 24).

    Meanwhile cinemas, indoor dining, indoor gyms, amusement parks, shrines, all kinds of festivals, cultural and other events shall remain banned till further notice.

    June 1 onwards, several sectors will be allowed to open after a review meeting on May 27.

    In addition to this, the NCOC decided all SSC and HSSC exams will be held after June 20, while conducting professional and non-professional exams would take place on a case-to-case basis on recommendations from the Ministry of Education.

    The forum decided that wearing masks would remain compulsory.

    The NCOC had earlier imposed a lockdown in the country during the Eid holidays in order to stop the spread of the virus amid the deadly third wave.

  • Pakistan to send coronavirus relief assistance to Palestine

    Pakistan to send coronavirus relief assistance to Palestine

    Minister for Information and Broadcasting Chaudhry Fawad Hussain said on Tuesday that Pakistan would send coronavirus and medical emergency relief assistance to Palestine on humanitarian grounds.

    This decision was taken during the cabinet meeting held on Tuesday. Fawad said the cabinet thoroughly discussed the prevailing situation in Palestine and expressed indignation over the unfortunate situation of Palestinians.

    “Pakistan was the first country that took a strong, clear, and unflinching stance on Palestine,” said Chaudhry.

    Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi went on an official visit to Turkey, where he held a meeting with his Turkish counterpart on the Palestine issue.

    Foreign ministers of different Islamic countries including Pakistan, Turkey, Sudan, and Palestine will leave for New York in a group form to attend the special session of the United Nations General Assembly on Palestine, he said.

  • 28 passengers on one flight test positive for coronavirus

    Twenty-eight passengers, coming from Bahrain to Peshawar, tested positive for coronavirus at the Bacha Khan International Airport on Tuesday. 

    The airport’s Chief Operating Officer (COO) Obaid-ur-Rehman Abbasi said rapid antigen tests were conducted on 130 passengers who arrived at the airport from Bahrain. 

    “The passengers who tested positive for the virus have been handed over to the district administration,” he said, adding that various areas of the airport had also been disinfected after the development.

    A week earlier, the CAA had noted, “with grave concern”, that passengers arriving in Pakistan from mostly Gulf countries, were testing positive for coronavirus.

    “Upon conducting an investigation into the issue, it has been found that passengers travelled to Pakistan using fake PCR negative test results and endangered not only passengers travelling with them, but also undermined the intense efforts being made at the national level to curb the spread of Covid-19,” said the authority, in a notification that was released on May 10. 

    “The onus of contributing towards this national cause does not fall on the authority alone but is a responsibility that has to be shared by all concerned stakeholders including airline operators,” the notification stated.

    The development is a worrying one as Pakistan, like many countries around the world, continues to struggle with the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

    The current positive cases in the country stand at 882,928 with a positivity rate of 8.2%.

  • Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, his wife, and another member of his team allegedly refused to undergo Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for coronavirus when landing at Lahore airport, violating the instruction of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    In a letter written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headquarters in Karachi, Lahore airport chief operating officer and manager Akhtar Mirza said the Bahria Town CEO refused to give samples for the Covid-19 test. The team of airport health staff went to his residence to follow up with a test but Riaz refused to take the test.

    Letter written to the CAA, regarding Malik Riaz refusing to take the Covid test

    Riaz, along with four other people, landed at Lahore Airport from Dubai. After the passengers passed through the immigration process, the CAA duty staff requested Riaz and his fellows to undergo the RAT, which is a rapid diagnostic test that directly detects the presence or absence of the antigen and gives results within few minutes.

    “But they did not respond and rapidly moved towards international arrivals exit gate,” Mirza stated in the letter.

    Riaz, Bina Riaz and Shahid Mahmood Qureshi, “left the airport without [the test] which is an open violation of NCOC instructions and SOPs”, the letter added.

    The CAA management then contacted the government health team and Riaz’s personal staff officer to obtain the RAT samples from the property tycoon’s residence. A two-member team of airport health staff subsequently left for Riaz’s house shortly “but unfortunately once again [he] flatly refused to give samples for the requisite test.”

    The letter was submitted to the airport services director at CAA Karachi headquarters for his “information and further necessary action”.

    After detection of the coronavirus in some passengers arriving in Pakistan and despite them having negative PCR test results, the CAA tightened the rules regarding testing.

  • Eid in lockdown: Do’s and Don’ts

    Eid this year will be different again due to rising cases of coronavirus and lockdown rules. However, this doesn’t mean that Eid will be boring. Here’s a list of do’s and don’ts you should follow this Eid to remain safe and healthy and make the most of your holiday.

    What you should NOT do this Eid

    Don’t go outside

    Stay indoors as much as possible don’t go outside and socialise. Meeting with friends or family or going into large gatherings can put you and your loved one’s health and life at risk. Find some activities to do indoors!

    Do not hug

    As Firdous Apa put it, “No Jhapiyaan and Papiyaans” this Eid. While we all are missing human touch and hugging our loved ones, what’s the point of doing so when it puts everyone at risk?

    Don’t overeat

    After fasting for almost a month, many people ending up overindulging and overeating on Eid. Experts suggest that we should give our bodies some time to adjust to the change and should take small meals.

    What to DO this Eid

    Spend time with your family

    If there is one thing the COVID-19 pandemic has taught us is the importance of family. Though we do miss going out, the lockdown is also a blessing in disguise as it allows you to spend time with your family. Spend quality time with the family by playing boardgames, cooking Eid dinner together or having a movie night.

    Save your Eidi

    If you are among the lucky ones who get Eidi, instead of spending all your Eidi on something insignificant save it for the future.

    Dress Up

    Staying indoors should not stop you from dressing up. Dress up in your favourite outfit, put on some makeup and take some fun pictures of yourself with your siblings and family. Check out this guide to taking Instagrammable pictures here.

    Video call your loved ones

    While we cannot meet our loved ones in person this Eid, we surely can talk to them over phone or over video call. Set up a Zoom meeting with your family across the world and engage with them. We promise that it will leave you with a fuzzy feeling.

    Last but not the least, do whatever makes you feel good but stay safe, Eid Mubarak!

  • PM’s surprise visit to PIMS Hospital’s Covid ward

    PM’s surprise visit to PIMS Hospital’s Covid ward

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday night paid a surprise visit to the coronavirus ward of the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), Islamabad, to review the conditions there. According to the Prime Minister’s Office, PM Khan met with the patients and inquired about their health.

    The premier particularly inquired about the facilities being provided to COVID-19 patients at the hospital, particularly the availability of oxygen and medicines.

    Addressing the staff at the hospital, the PM said that since healthcare workers are the country’s frontline fighters, they should also take care of themselves apart from taking care of the patients.

    The premier also inquired from doctors and the staff if all of them have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

    He said that the third wave of the coronavirus is more lethal than the previous two ones, adding that people should follow the SOPs to protect themselves from the virus

    The virus has so far claimed 19,106 lives in Pakistan, while the number of total cases in the country has reached 864,557.

  • Karachi gets country’s largest COVID-19 vaccination centre

    Karachi gets country’s largest COVID-19 vaccination centre

    Pakistan’s largest COVID-19 vaccination center has been set up in Karachi’s Expo Centre. The facility can accommodate up to 30,000 people on a daily basis.

    As per reports, the Sindh government has established the mega vaccination center at Karachi’s Expo Centre in order to speed up the COVID-19 vaccination process.

    The mega vaccination centre will be operational from May 9 (Sunday) where 30,000 people could get COVID-19 shots in a single day.

    The vaccination centre will directly be supervised by Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah and the vaccination process will take place 24 hours a day.

    The provincial government has also notified that the staff of the private hospital will be on duty while the vaccination centres will remain open sans three eid days as the country faces the rising third wave of the global pandemic.

    According to the notification issued by the Sindh government, except for the three gazetted Eid days, from May 13-15, the vaccination centres will be functional on all federally announced holidays.

    Earlier, the Sindh government also launched free COVID-19 vaccination home service to facilitate elderly citizens.

    The mobile helplines for at-home vaccination are 9123 and 1025. Those calling from a landline phone can dial 021-111-119-123.

    The province has reported 290,756 cases reporting 1,110 in the last 24 hours.

  • Sindh launches home service for COVID-19 vaccination

    Sindh launches home service for COVID-19 vaccination

    The Sindh government has introduced a free COVID-19 home service for coronavirus vaccination to facilitate elderly citizens.

    According to details, the facility is currently being offered to residents of Karachi and Hyderabad only for now.

    The mobile helplines for at-home vaccination are 9123 and 1025. Those calling from a landline phone can dial 021-111-119-123.

    The spokesperson said that people will initially have to register by sending their CNIC number to 1166.

    The vaccines shots available with the government are Sinopharm and Sinovac (CoronaVac).

    Read more – WHO praises Pakistan’s COVID-19 vaccination arrangements

    Meanwhile, the Government of Sindh will also start providing coronavirus vaccine to private hospitals in the province.