Zainab Qayyum, popularly known as ZQ, has explained that why she underwent multiple COVID testings during the pandemic.
Responding to a news report which said that the actor got herself tested 11 times because of fear, Zainab Qayyum said: “Uff. Mein wehmi loony nahin different projects may acting karnay kay tehat yeh ehtyaati tadbeer ka hissa hai.”
uff mein wehmi loony nahin diff projects may acting karnay kay tehat yeh ehtyaati tadbeer ka hissa hai https://t.co/y04cCAyMlX
The actor further explained that she got “11 tests in the past nine months because I’ve been working on eight different projects with eight different sets of cast and crew. We have to be careful for ourselves as well as our costars.”
Qayyum also bashed a local media publication for publishing a misleading headline.
“Dunya News poori khabar dayni chayay na kay sunsannnnni waali headline,” said Zainab.
♀️poori khabar yeh thi kay 11 tests in the past 9 months coz ive been working on 8 diff projects with 8 diff sets of cast & crew. we have to be careful for ourselves as well as our costars @DunyaNews poori khabar dayni chayay na kay sunsannnnni waali headline ♀️ https://t.co/KSrQCw7v5f
“Honestly, as an actor, I don’t have a choice but to go to work where we work under the strictest SOPs,” said ZQ. “I haven’t met anyone apart from my costars on set for fear of being a silent carrier since last year. Have had 11 covid tests (all negative).”
“Please don’t host [or] attend social events and then come on set to work with us,” she added.
When a social media user appreciated ZQ for not attending any gatherings, she replied: “Because I am choosing NOT to go. I am responsible, not only for myself but also [for] my co-stars who I have to come on set and work with daily. I’m not going to put them or their families at risk, nor do I expect them to put me at risk either.”
because i am choosing NOT to go i am responsible not inly for myself but also my costars who i have to come on set and work with daily. im not going to put them or their families at risk, nor do i expect them to put me at risk either…..
Disclosing how he got infected during the third wave of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan, Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has admitted flouting SOPs during the recently-held Senate elections.
Saying that the third wave of COVID-19 was more severe than any previous ones, the premier, in a televised message, urged people to strictly follow government-issued SOPs as the country could not afford complete lockdown.
“We should strictly adhere to the SOPs, including wearing masks and avoiding gatherings as we did in the past,” he said and added that the number of COVID-19 patients was rising at a very fast pace.
Admitting he flouted SOPs during the upper house polls and that was how he and the first lady got infected, the premier said both his wife and him, with the blessings of Allah, were now feeling much better.
Former captain of the Pakistan Cricket team Wasim Akram on Saturday called on authorities to give “two slaps” to people violating the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) as only then they would understand the problem.
Sharing a video message on coronavirus, Akram, in his quintessential Urdu-Punjabi style, hoped that people from Pakistan and across the world will be in good health in these “testing times”.
The cricketer turned commentator said that he had “read and seen” that coronavirus cases were rising in Punjab, especially in his city Lahore, Islamabad and Rawalpindi.
“Please follow the SOPs. Why are you so stubborn?” Akram asked his followers.
The former fast bowler said that there was also a “Plan B” in place for those not following the SOPs.
Akram, then in Punjabi, explained that “Plan B” is to give all violators two slaps each as they would never understand in the normal manner. He sniped that the Pakistanis were just “legends”.
The former fast bowler’s comments come as the country for a second day reported more than 4,000 cases. Most of these cases were from Punjab.
According to data from the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 4,468 people tested positive for COVID-19 on March 26 while 67 people succumbed to the virus.
Pakistan is currently battling its third wave of the coronavirus due to a lethal UK strain that has entered the country.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has announced that the ongoing Pakistan Super League (PSL) will go ahead as per schedule amid false reports that the league could be postponed for a few days due to an outbreak of COVID-19 in the Islamabad United camp. It also said that the stadiums will see 50 percent crowds until March 16.
Director Media and Communications at PCB Samiul Hasan Burney announced the news at a press conference and revealed that three out of the 244 PCR tests conducted returned positive.
244 PCR tests conducted, three tests positive, all three isolated.
Two of the three infected personnel were foreign players, including Islamabad United’s Fawad Ahmed, whose positive test was made public on Monday and led to the rescheduling of Islamabad, Quetta fixture.
“We conducted 244 PCR tests, in addition to the rapid tests conducted,” said Burney. “Of the 244 tests, three have come back positive. Two foreign players and one support staff have tested positive.”
While the identity of the other foreign player has not yet been disclosed, journalist Abdul Ghaffar has said that the third person is a member of the support staff.
BREAKING NEWS: QGvIU will play as per schedule, PCB
Meanwhile, sports journalists and analysts are urging the board and public not to panic, highlighting that such incidents are common in events of such scale.
Player/official testing positive has been a routine in international events… Australian open tennis, English premier league, German league.. so nothing to worry… @OfficialPSL will go on… things will be normal …
Dr. Anthony Fauci, the leading voice and expert on Covid, said last year – while talking about NFL – that if there is one positive case in a sporting event then you can get away with it and such a situation is manageable. No need to create panic.
Exactly. Anyone who follows the ATP/WTA Tours would know how common it has been for players to test positive before and during tournaments ever since the Tour has resumed. It’s going to be normal now and should be treated as such. https://t.co/G2IObmxwC9
PSL is well and truly alive amidst all the rumors.. so much so for the detractors.. In heat of selling your own agendas you almost played at the cost of our league.. One of the lowest moments we could witness. https://t.co/Q9CVCMb62g
1/3 No need to panic about 3 players & 1 from the management being Covid 19 +. Make stringent protocols, ensure the biosecure bubble is impenetrable & stop being in self denial. Proper quarantine (i.e. number of days) & minor rescheduling of the matches may well be required.
3/3 it’s a global pandemic therefore such happenings are common. Instead of blame games let’s get the act together & deliver. A word of caution for those defending the lapses. It’s not about criticism it about preserving health of the players & also integrity of PSL.
Following the decision of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to allow 20 percent crowd to attend each matchday of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 6, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Tuesday confirmed the ticket prices for 30 of the 34 matches, which will be played from February 20 to March 16. Ticket denominations for the Qualifier, two Eliminators and the final, to be played from March 18-22, will be announced closer to time.
According to a press release, online sale of tickets will start on Wednesday at 10 00 (Pakistan time) and fans can visit www.bookme.pk to purchase match tickets and select their preferred enclosure and choice of seat.
Fans can also call the Bookme helpline (03137786888) to book their tickets for which CNIC number and phone number is mandatory. When the match ticket has been confirmed, the customer will be sent a token number on the registered phone so that the customer can make the payment at the closest Jazzcash/Easypaisa shop. Upon payment, the customer will receive an e-ticket code along with a Quick Response (QR) Code, which the customer can use to print the ticket or show the SMS at the entry gate on match day.
To encourage families to attend the marquee event, the PCB has reserved certain enclosures of the National Stadium Karachi and Gaddafi Stadium Lahore for families.
At the National Stadium, enclosures reserved for the families include Hanif Mohammad (VIP Enclosure), Wasim Akram (Premium Enclosure), Zaheer Abbas, Iqbal Qasim and Nasimul Ghani Enclosures (First-Class Enclosures), and Intikhab Alam Enclosure (General) while family enclosures at the Gaddafi Stadium include: Fazal Mahmood (VIP Enclosure), Saeed Anwar (Premier Enclosure), Abdul Qadir (First-Class Enclosure) and Nazar, Quaid, Zaheer Abbas and Majid Khan (General Enclosure).
For Saturday’s tournament opener between Karachi Kings and Quetta Gladiators, which will begin at 7 pm, cost of VIP stands (Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad Enclosures) have been fixed at Rs 5,000, while the price of the First-Class stands (Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Waqar Hasan, Majid Khan, Iqbal Qasim and Nasimul Ghani Enclosures) have been kept at Rs 4,000. Similarly, price of Premium stands (Quaid, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan Enclosure) has been set at Rs 3,000, while the General stand tickets (Wasim Bari, Mohammad Brothers and Intikhab Alam Enclosure) have been fixed at Rs 2,000.
For Sunday’s double-header between Lahore Qalandars and Peshawar Zalmi, and Islamabad United and Multan Sultans, which will start at 2 pm and 7 pm, respectively, cost of VIP stands (Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad Enclosures) have been fixed at Rs 4,000, while the price of the First-Class stands (Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Waqar Hasan, Majid Khan, Iqbal Qasim and Nasimul Ghani Enclosures) have been kept at Rs 3,000. Similarly, price of Premium stands (Quaid, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan Enclosure) has been set at Rs 2,000, while the General stand tickets (Wasim Bari, Mohammad Brothers and Intikhab Alam Enclosure) have been fixed at Rs 1,000.
For matches to take place from Monday-Wednesday, cost of VIP stands (Hanif Mohammad and Javed Miandad Enclosures) have been fixed at Rs 3,000, while the price of the First-Class stands (Zaheer Abbas, Asif Iqbal, Waqar Hasan, Majid Khan, Iqbal Qasim and Nasimul Ghani Enclosures) have been kept at PKR2,000. Similarly, price of Premium stands (Quaid, Wasim Akram and Imran Khan Enclosure) have been set at Rs 1,000, while the General stand tickets (Wasim Bari, Mohammad Brothers and Intikhab Alam Enclosure) have been fixed at Rs 500.
For the first match in Lahore on March 10 involving Peshawar Zalmi and Karachi Kings, ticket prizes for the VIP stands (Imran Khan and Fazal Mahmood Enclosures) have been set for 3,000, followed by Rs 2,000 for the First-Class Stands (Abdul Qadir and Sarfraz Nawaz Enclosures), Rs 1,000 for Premium stands (A.H. Kardar, Rajas, Javed Miandad and Saeed Anwar Enclosures) and Rs 500 for General stands (Inzamam ul Haq, Nazars, Quaid, Imtiaz Ahmed, Zaheer Abbas, Hanif Mohammad, Majid Khan, Saeed Ahmed Enclosures).
Meanwhile, overseas players have started arriving in Karachi, where the first half of the tournament will take place. Karachi will host 20 matches from February 20 to March 7 while Lahore will host the remaining 14 matches from March 10 to 22.
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has granted permission to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to have spectators at the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to commence from February 20. As per details, stadiums will be allowed only 20 percent spectators of the total capacity.
According to a press release issued by PCB, the decision means around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed access inside the National Stadium in Karachi per match day, while around 5,500 will be able to attend each match day at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
During the course of the event, the NCOC and the PCB will continue to work together and monitor the situation before a decision to increase crowd numbers for the three playoffs and the final is made.
The NCOC made the decision following a detailed and comprehensive briefing by the PCB officials, in which they assured that the event organisers and the PCB will strictly follow the government’s COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including social distancing.
The press release further said that PCB will soon announce its ticketing policy to provide further clarity to the fans on how they can purchase tickets and the process to enter/exit the venues during the matches.
Thanking NCOC, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: “I am thankful to the NCOC for trusting the PCB and allowing limited fans to watch the live-action of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021. This is an endorsement that the PCB is an institution, which is capable of planning and then successfully implementing COVID-19 SOPs during its marquee event being staged in Pakistan for the second successive year.
He added: “Fans are the PCB’s biggest asset and we are delighted that no matter a small number, but some will be able to have access to the matches. Their presence will add flavour and excitement to one of the biggest and most challenging leagues in the cricket calendar.”
“I am optimistic that if we can maintain strict protocols during the HBL PSL 2021 matches we will have a strong case for more fans in the 2021-22 season in which we have to host high-profile international teams such as New Zealand, England and the West Indies as well as quality domestic events, including the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup,” concluded Mani.
The HBL PSL season six will be played in Karachi and Lahore from February 20 to March 22.
Araha hai #HBLPSL6 ka mausam! Mark your calendars!
Priyanka Chopra Jonas has come under fire for defying lockdown and COVID-19 rules in London and visiting a salon. The United Kingdom has been put under total lockdown once again after a new strain of the coronavirus, more lethal than the first, was detected.
PC, who was shooting for Text For You in London was stranded there due to the lockdown rules. According to reports, she visited a salon in Notting Hill with her mother Madhu Chopra. Spas and salons do not come under basic necessities and after pictures of her visit were widely circulated on social media, they caught the attention of the cops and authorities.
As per details, the cops reached the salon and confronted the owner. Giving a verbal warning to the owner, they urged them to follow SOPs.
When then Quantico star was confronted, Priyanka said that she had a valid reason to visit the salon. She had to colour her hair for her upcoming film and the salon was opened only for some private appointments. She was not fined because she was out for work purposes.
Later, in an official statement, the actor’s spokesperson said Priyanka visited the salon for the purpose of the film and the exemption paperwork allowing her to be at the facility was provided to the police.
“Following government guidance, Priyanka’s hair was coloured for the purpose of the film she is currently shooting in London. The salon was opened privately for the production and everyone involved had been tested and followed both the DCMS working guidelines and the film production regulations.
“Film and TV production is permitted to continue in the UK, and locations can continue to accommodate shoots and recces that are carried out in line with government guidelines. The exemption paperwork legally permitting her to be there was provided to the police, and they left satisfied,” the spokesperson added.
Meanwhile, the police, in a statement issued said: “Police were alerted at around 17:40hrs on Wednesday, 6 January to reports of a COVID breach taking place within a hairdressers on Lansdowne Mews, Notting Hill.”
“Officers attended and the owner of the salon was given a verbal reminder of the important need to comply with all regulations regarding Covid-19 and signposted to other sources of advice. No fixed penalty notices were issued.”
Priyanka has some major Hollywood projects lined up back-to-back. She has The White Tiger up for release on Netflix this month and is currently shooting for a romcom Text For You. She is reportedly also part of Matrix 4 and has officially announced the sequel to We Can Be Heroes.
Tom Cruise reportedly lost his cool after an apparent breach of COVID-19 safety protocols on the London set of the new Mission: Impossible movie, telling crew members they would be fired if they don’t obey the rules.
In expletive-filled remarks captured on audiotape obtained by The Sun, the star and producer of the action film yelled at the crew about lapses of social distancing and other rules that allow movies to be made during the coronavirus pandemic.
Tom Cruise went ballistic on the Mission: Impossible 7 crew for breaking COVID protocols…https://t.co/WbIpVlja7w
A source close to the production said the tape was authentic. However, Cruise’s representative declined to comment on the matter.
“I’m on the phone with every fucking studio at night, insurance companies, producers, and they’re looking at us and using us to make their movies,” Cruise told the crew on the set.
“Do you understand the responsibility that you have? Because I will deal with your reason. And if you can’t be reasonable and I can’t deal with your logic, you’re fired,” he can be heard saying in the audiotape.
The Sun did not say when the incident took place, but the filmmakers arrived in London in early December.
The seventh Mission: Impossible was one of the first movies to shut down production because of the coronavirus when it abandoned filming in Venice, Italy, in February.
Production resumed in September, with filming in Italy, Norway and London. Cruise in July personally appealed to Norway’s prime minister to shoot parts of the film in Norway under modified quarantine rules.
Cruise told the crew Hollywood was relying on movies like Mission: Impossible to keep the beleaguered industry going.
“We want the gold standard. They’re back there in Hollywood making movies right now because of us! Because they believe in us and what we’re doing,” he said.
Mission: Impossible is one of the biggest franchises in Hollywood, with 2018’s Mission: Impossible-Fallout taking more than $791 million at the worldwide box office.
The Paramount Pictures film is scheduled to be released in November 2021.
