Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

  • ‘Well done Pakistan’: 58% of eligible population fully vaccinated

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that 58 per cent of Pakistan’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. He also mentioned that Pakistan has set a record by administering 2.24 million Covid-19 vaccination doses in a day.

    “Another record set with 2.24 million vaccinations in a day. Last 4 days in a row we have vaccinated more than 2 million each day. Every 3 out of 4 Pakistanis eligible for vaccination have received at least 1 dose. 58% are fully vaccinated. Well done Pakistan,” the minister wrote in his tweet.

    As per the National Command Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 3,498 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 39 people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Door-to-door vaccination: Pakistan to vaccinate 35 million people in two weeks

    Door-to-door vaccination: Pakistan to vaccinate 35 million people in two weeks

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that the government has launched a massive door-to-door vaccination campaign amid the fifth wave of Covid-19 in the country. Over 35 million Covid-19 shots will be administrated to the citizens during the campaign.

    Speaking at a press conference alongside Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar said that in the first phase of the campaign, 55,000 mobile teams will vaccinate people at their homes for the next two months.

    The campaign’s first phase would start from today (February 1) and run for two weeks.

    “It has been noticed during the current fifth wave of Covid-19 that the people in the areas with high vaccination rates have minor symptoms of the disease,” Asad Umar said.

    Dr Faisal Sultan urged people to quit being “lazy” and get a booster shot if they haven’t already.

    Pakistan recorded 5,327 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 32 people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her own wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

    The prime minister was rumoured to be planning to marry her longtime partner Clarke Gayford.

    “My wedding will not be going ahead,” she said.

    In a briefing, Ardern said, “I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry.”

    She also urged citizens to get booster and reduce contact with others to avoid the spread.

    In a video, she was asked by a reporter how she felt about the postponement of her wedding, Ardern replied: “Such is life.”

    The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as mask-wearing and limits on gatherings which will go into effect on Monday.

    The latest curbs come after nine cases of Omicron were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

  • Pakistan records highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began

    Pakistan records highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began

    Pakistan has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. As per the National Command and Operating Center (NCOC), the country recorded 7678 new cases of the deadly virus. The positivity rate has increased to 12.93 per cent.

    Moreover, 23 people lost their lives and 961 patients are in critical condition.

    The total number of cases has risen to 1,353,479 and the death toll is 29,065.

    Read more- NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    A ban on indoor dinning in major cities including, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Hyderabad will be enforced from today.

  • COVID-19: Pakistan ranks number 2 in performance for measures taken against the virus

    COVID-19: Pakistan ranks number 2 in performance for measures taken against the virus

    Pakistan has been ranked number two in The Economists’ world normalcy index, that measures recovery and opening up of society and economy post COVID-19. The Economist has compiled data from January 2021 to January 2022.

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar, while sharing the screenshot of the report wrote. “Pakistan ranked number 2 in the world in Economist global normalcy index measuring recovery post covid opening up of society & economy. Pak was 3rd in the first evaluation and number 1 in the second. Pakistan is the only country in the world to be in top 3 in all three rankings.”

    Read more- NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    Yesterday, NCOC announced a ban on indoor gatherings and events have been banned in the districts and cities with Covid-19 positivity rate exceeding 10 per cent. 

  • Shehbaz Sharif, Shaukat Tarin test positive for Covid-19

    Shehbaz Sharif, Shaukat Tarin test positive for Covid-19

    Leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly (NA) Shehbaz Sharif has tested positive for Covid-19 again.

    Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shaukat Tarin has also tested positive for coronavirus 

    The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) official Twitter handle shared the news.

    The PML-N president, had last tested positive for COVID-19 in June 2020.

    Shehbaz is currently isolated at home and resting as per his doctor’s advice.

    Pakistan is currently battling a fifth wave of the pandemic with a current positivity rate up to 9.5 percent and 5472 positive case of the coronavirus.

  • What can the govt do, will have to go to IMF again if exports don’t increase, says PM Khan

    What can the govt do, will have to go to IMF again if exports don’t increase, says PM Khan

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan while addressing the inaugural ceremony of the 14th International Chambers Summit 2022 organised by the Rawalpindi Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that tax collection and exports are the main drivers of boosting the economy.

    Saying that Pakistan has an “improving economy”, PM Khan said that all economic indicators were showing upward trends despite inherited economic crunch and the impact of Covid-19.

    “Will have to go to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) again if we do not enhance our exports,” said PM Khan.

    “In the past, no attention was paid to these sectors of the economy which are vital for wealth creation. The exports sector was stagnant in the past, but the incumbent government is providing all facilitation to the exporters,” he said.

    “We realise that people are worried, there is imported inflation in our country, dollar rate has gone up due to smuggling of dollar to Afghanistan, still Pakistan is a cheap country, US President Joe Biden has also been criticised by Donald Trump on inflation in the country.”

    PM Khan said commodity prices have increased all over the world and Pakistan also imported inflation which hurt its people badly but asked what the government could do in the circumstances.

    Claiming that the steps taken by his government to combat coronavirus and keep businesses open were being followed by United Kingdom’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson. “We did not let people die due to Covid-19 and lockdowns,” he added.

    The prime minister said corruption would assume the role of cancer. “Corruption is a symptom of lack of rule of law in society. Our fight is for the rule of law in Pakistan. It is a difficult one because of different cartels and mafias which do not want the rule of law,” he said, terming it a jihad against the mafias to secure the future of the country.

    Contrary to the claims, Pakistan lost $250m worth of textile exports in December 2021 when the gas supply was suspended for 15 days in the Punjab textile sector. Executive Director of All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA), Shahid Sattar also confirmed the loss of millions of dollars by saying that it will “never be recovered.”

  • Indian 85-year-old man says he got 12 Covid vaccine shots, still wants more

    Indian 85-year-old man says he got 12 Covid vaccine shots, still wants more

    An 85-year-old retired postman from the northern Indian state of Bihar received his first dose on February 13 at a local clinic, and he hasn’t stopped since.

    In an interview with New York Times, he said, “I felt that it was helping my general health. My backache has improved, my general weakness improved, and my appetite improved. I still want more.”

    Mandal used his national identity and his mobile number card for 9 shots out of 12. After that, he used his voting card and the mobile numbers of his wife and his friends.

    He admitted that each time he registered for a new jab he told the staff lie that he had not received any dose before.

    However, his claim has not yet been confirmed but media reports suggested that Bihar’s vaccination numbers are likely inaccurate. The manual registration process might be the cause of this.

    According to the newspaper, there is no indication that the immune system with 12 shots brings any real benefits.

  • ‘Nightmare, Saif locked himself in a hotel room’: Kareena Kapoor tests negative for Covid-19, excited to meet sons

    ‘Nightmare, Saif locked himself in a hotel room’: Kareena Kapoor tests negative for Covid-19, excited to meet sons

    Bollywood actor Kareena Kapoor has tested negative for Covid-19 and has reunited with her children Taimur & Jeh  and husband Saif Ali Khan.

    The Bodygaurd diva was spotted today with family while heading for a Kapoor family’s Christmas lunch.

    Kareena on Friday announced that she has been tested negative for the deadly virus.

    “I have tested negative for Covid–19. Thank you to my darling sister for being our anchor through this nightmare… My BFF Amrita we did this… my darling friends and family, my Poonie, Naina, and everyone for praying… My fans for your DMs… The BMC for being so amazing and prompt… SRL Dr. Avinash Phadke Labs for being the best… And lastly my dear husband for being so patient to be locked in a hotel room… away from his family. Merry Christmas everybody stay safe! Ok bye have to kiss my babies like never before – Kareena Kapoor Khan.”

    Kareena was tested positive in earlier this month.

  • NCOC lowers age limit for Covid-19 booster shot to 30

    NCOC lowers age limit for Covid-19 booster shot to 30

    The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) announced its decision to lower the age limit for the administration of Covid-19 booster shot for people who got both their shots six months back. Pakistanis aged 30 or above can now get a booster shot of their own choice across Pakistan from January 1, 2022.

    Only Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Pfizer will be given as booster shots. The booster shot will be administered free of cost.

    Health workers, immunocompromised people and anyone above or of the age of 30 years is eligible for a booster shot.

    Earlier this month, NCOC had approved a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, those aged over 50 years, and immunocompromised people.