Tag: COVID-19 pandemic

  • Britain confirms first Omicron coronavirus variant death

    Britain confirms first Omicron coronavirus variant death

    British Prime Minister (PM) Boris Johnson confirmed the first global death from the swiftly spreading strain of the Omicron variant on Monday, reports Reuters.

    However, it is not clear if the deceased had been vaccinated or had underlying health issues.

    “Sadly at least one patient has now been confirmed to have died with Omicron. I think the idea is that this is somehow a milder version of the virus. That’s something we need to set to one side and just recognise the sheer pace at which it accelerates through the population,” Johnson stated.

    When asked about the lifting of tougher restrictions, PM avoided giving a direct answer. However, British Health Secretary Sajid Javid said he knew of no plans for additional measures.

    The first Omicron cases were detected in Britain on November 27. Before this confirmation, 10 people (ranging from 18 to 85 years) were hospitalised with Omicron, most had received two vaccination doses as the virus can overcome the immunity of those who have had two shots of vaccines such as AstraZeneca or Pfizer-BioNTech.

    The World Health Organisation (WHO) suggests that the Omicron may be less severe than the Delta variant as all cases reported in the European region have been mild.

    In Pakistan, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in Pakistan on Monday.

  • Pakistan fully vaccinates 33% of its eligible population against covid-19

    Pakistan fully vaccinates 33% of its eligible population against covid-19

    Pakistan has vaccinated 33 per cent of the eligible population against Covid-19, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) stated in a tweet.

    “33% of Pakistan’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated!! If you are still unvaccinated, please get your dose now! Stay safe!,” the tweet by the center read.

    As of today, the total number of vaccines administered across the country is 124,054,300.

    The NCOC has also approved a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, those aged over 50 years, and immunocompromised people.

    Read more- NCOC approves booster shot for healthcare workers, those over 50 and immunocompromised people

    A new variant of the coronavirus was reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) from South Africa on November 24. It was declared a new variant “of concern” and named it Omicron. The new variant has raised alarm in the entire world, including Pakistan.

    Read more- Deadly Omicron-new variant of Covid, raises alarm

  • Pakistan Covid positivity rate drops to 0.94%, lowest since March 2020

    Pakistan Covid positivity rate drops to 0.94%, lowest since March 2020

    Pakistan’s Covid-19 positivity rate on Tuesday dropped to 0.94 per cent, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The recorded positivity rate is the lowest since March 2020, Geo News has reported. During the last 24 hours, 42,373 tests were conducted across the country of which 400 returned positive.

    The country has administered at least 113,188,078 doses of COVID vaccines so far.

  • ‘Pakistan witnessing lowest positivity rate since we started measuring Covid’: Asad Umar

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar took to Twitter to announce that Pakistan recorded the lowest Covid positivity ratio since the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) started measuring the statistics of the pandemic.

    “Alhamdulillah, we now have [the] lowest positivity ratio since we started measuring covid. Also, have [the] lowest patients on critical care & [the] lowest daily mortality in a year. [The] positive impact of vaccination showing but vaccination drive must continue.”

    According to the latest statistics given by NCOC, the current positivity ratio of the virus is 1.34 per cent.

  • Pakistan’s lowest daily Covid-19 death count of 2021

    Pakistan has reported the daily death toll from Covid-19 below 10 for the first time in this year, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) data showed on Monday.

    According to the latest statistics of NCOC, nine people succumbed to the virus during the past 24 hours across the country and 698 positive cases were reported.

    The positivity rate now stands at 1.65 per cent and for the tenth consecutive day, it is less than 2 per cent.

    The infections are decreasing day by day in Pakistan, with 593 new cases reported on average each day, reports Geo News.

    Last week, active cases in Pakistan dropped below the 25,000 mark after approximately seven months.

    Pakistan has administered at least 100,741,762 doses of Covid vaccines so far.

  • Pfizer says Covid-19 vaccine more than 90 percent effective in kids

    Pfizer says Covid-19 vaccine more than 90 percent effective in kids

    Kid-size doses of Pfizer’s coronavirus vaccine appear safe and almost 91 per cent effective at preventing symptomatic infections in 5 to 11-year-olds according to study details released Friday, as the US considers opening vaccinations to that age group.

    The shots could begin in early November — with the first children in line fully protected by Christmas — if regulators give the go-ahead.

    Details of Pfizer’s study were posted online. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) was expected to post its independent review of the company’s safety and effectiveness data later in the day.

    Advisers to the FDA will publicly debate the evidence next week. If the agency ultimately authorises the shots, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make the final decision on who should receive them.

    Full-strength Pfizer shots are already authorised for anyone 12 or older, but pediatricians and many parents are waiting for something that can protect younger children from the extra-contagious delta variant and help keep kids in school.

    More than 25,000 pediatricians and primary care providers already have signed up to get the shots for the kids.

    A Pfizer study tracked 2,268 kids in that age group who got two shots three weeks apart of either a placebo or the low-dose vaccine. Each dose was one-third the amount given to teens and adults.

    Researchers calculated the low-dose vaccine was nearly 91 per cent effective, based on 16 virus cases in youngsters given dummy shots versus three cases among vaccinated children. There were no severe illnesses reported among any of the youngsters, but the vaccinated ones had much milder symptoms than their unvaccinated counterparts.

    Pfizer’s study of younger kids found the low-dose shots proved safe, with similar or fewer temporary side effects such as sore arms, fever or achiness that teens experience.

    The study isn’t large enough to detect any extremely rare side effects, such as the heart inflammation that occasionally occurs after the second dose, mostly in young men.

    While children run a lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, Covid-19 has killed more than 630 Americans 18 and under, according to the CDC. Nearly 6.2 million children have been infected with the coronavirus, more than 1.1 million in the last six weeks as the delta mutant surged, the American Academy of Pediatrics says.

    Moderna also is studying its vaccine shots in elementary school-age youngsters. Pfizer and Moderna are studying even younger children as well, down to 6-month-olds. Results are expected later in the year.

  • Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    The Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday, operated at full capacity with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder, and floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the mosque were also removed, reports Al Jazeera.

    According to an official Saudi Press Agency, “This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity.”

    Despite the lifting of social distancing measures, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.

    Pictures and footage of worshippers performing Muslim prayers are making rounds on social media.

    In Saudi Arabia, the authorities also lifted curbs on fully vaccinated people at closed venues, gatherings, transportation, restaurants and cinemas. Masks are no longer mandatory in open public places.

    Earlier, in July, only about 60,000 citizens and residents were allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.

  • All educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday: Asad Umar

    All educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday: Asad Umar

    Educational activities across the country will resume from Monday (October 11) next week. Due to Covid, educational activities across the country were affected for over a year.

    Asad Umar announced that the decision has been taken in view of a drop in the Covid-19 cases and a stepped-up national vaccination campaign by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    “Based on the reduced level of disease spread and the launch of the school vaccination program, it has been decided in today’s NCOC meeting to allow all educational institutions to start normal classes from Monday the 11th of October” tweeted Umar.

    The country reported less than 1,000 daily coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours for the first time in over three months.

    The latest data from NCOC shows that Pakistan reported 912 cases after 45,619 tests. The country last recorded a daily case count below 1,000 on July 6 at 830 cases.

  • Kubra Khan shares emotional experience as she tests positive for Covid’19

    Kubra Khan shares emotional experience as she tests positive for Covid’19

    Actor Kubra Khan has tested positive for Covid-19 after basking in the glory of fan’s appreciation for her performance as Mashal in Farooq Rind’s Hum Kahan Ke Sachay Thay.

    The Daldal star took to Instagram to share the news, “We as human beings have the funniest scales to measure what’s a big or a small deal,” she wrote. “We are waltzing around this world given temporarily to us, taking everything and everyone for granted. Something as many would say ‘as small as smelling the morning tea’ or ‘breathing in a normal rhythm’…it’s basic, normal isn’t it?”

    “I tested positive for Covid-19 a little while ago. And all these ‘small things’ didn’t feel so small anymore. Grateful to Allah (SWT) I am on a road to recovery now. This morning I smelt a hint of my tea and bawled out in tears out of gratitude to Allah. In the past week I had chicken karahi, Nutella cake, chocolate brownies, all my favourites in front of me. I couldn’t taste or even smell any of them. All that we work for weren’t able to lift me up, except for the ‘small thing’ of smelling chai that Allah (SWT) made possible,” she wrote.

    “I guess what I’m trying to say is it’s important to strive to live your best life and become the best version of yourselves. I do it myself and it’s normal to complain about ‘the big things’. ‘Paisa, kapra aur makaan‘ [Money, clothes and housing]. I do that too but do not disregard the luxuries we’ve been given by Allah ( SWT). Gratitude changed my life. Realising the ‘small things are the real big deals’ changed my life. So here I am, in a shirt that I haven’t changed in the past three days, makeup-less, filterless and energy-less but Grateful to the max. Allah is Great,” added Kubra.

    On the work front, Kubra can be seen currently in Hum TV’s drama Hum Kaha Kay Sachy Thay.

    Kubra Khan talks about her equation with Mahira Khan

  • Unvaccinated people to face new restrictions in next 24 hours: NCOC

    Unvaccinated people to face new restrictions in next 24 hours: NCOC

    Strict restrictions will be enforced for non-vaccinated individuals from October 1, 2021. National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced vaccination certificates will be made “mandatory for domestic travellers from October 1”.

    Confirming the news, Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson said: “From October 1, only vaccinated passengers will be able to travel on all domestic and international flights of PIA,” reports Geo News.

    “Vaccination certificates will be checked at the airport upon receipt of the boarding card,” he said.

    People won’t be allowed to use railway and airline services without showing their vaccination cards.

    People who do not get vaccinated will not be able to enter wedding halls, shopping malls, hotels and guest houses from tomorrow [October 1].

    On the other hand, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that pregnant women should also get vaccinated.

    He reiterated that children’s vaccination is also necessary to continue educational activities.