Tag: covid 19

  • Tourism banned in Neelum Valley to curb Covid-19 spread

    Tourism has been banned in Neelum Valley from July 19 to July 29 amid the sharp increase of Covid 19 cases in the country, ARY News has reported.

    The decision came after Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Services, Dr Faisal Sultan announced on Monday that only vaccinated people will be allowed to visit tourist resorts during the Eid holidays from July 20 till July 22.

    People can travel once they are fully vaccinated. Dr Sultan stressed that it is necessary to have a vaccination certificate to travel during the Eid holidays.

    While talking to the media, he appealed to all citizens to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and to get vaccinated.

    Dr Sultan said that in the last few days, the positivity rate of Pakistan’s Covid-19 cases has jumped from two percent to four percent. The main cause of this surge is violation of SOPs, and the Delta Variant.

  • Eid ul Azha: Only vaccinated individuals to be allowed to visit tourist resorts

    Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Services, Dr Faisal Sultan, on Monday said that only vaccinated people will be allowed to visit tourist resorts during the Eid holidays from July 20 till July 22.

    People can travel once they are fully vaccinated. Dr Sultan stressed that it is necessary to have a vaccination certificate to travel during the Eid holidays.

    While talking to the media, he appealed to all citizens to follow Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) and to get vaccinated.

    Dr Sultan said that in the last few days, the positivity rate of Pakistan’s Covid-19 cases has jumped from two percent to four percent. The main cause of this surge is violation of SOPs, and the Delta Variant.

    Dr Sultan also said that the government may seek help from the army to implement SOPs, as per sources.

    According to the latest statistics by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 47,015 tests for coronavirus were conducted across the country in the last 24 hours, of which 1,808 people tested positive.

  • ‘Stop making trends on Twitter, focus on your studies’: Shafqat Mahmood advises students

    Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood has advised Pakistani students to stop making trends on Twitter against exams and focus on the preparation for the upcoming exams.

    Speaking on Dawn News programme ‘Live with Adil Shahzeb’ Mahmood said that exams have already started in Sindh and will also commence in Punjab from Friday so there is no possibility of papers being postponed or cancelled.

    “I would advise the students to stop spending time on Twitter to make trends and that it is better to focus on their education. There is still time left for exam preparation,” says Mahmood.

    When asked about Pakistani students waiting to return to China, Mahmood said he has discussed the issue with the Chinese envoy and hoped that it will be solved soon.

    “Every country is dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic in its own way. We all know that China is a big country and there is a risk of the virus spreading there, so the Chinese government enforced the strictest restrictions and imposed a lockdown.”

    Earlier Mahmood had said that board exams for students of classes nine and 10 would be held only for elective subjects and mathematics while exams for students of classes 11 and 12 would be held for elective subjects only.

  • Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Tuesday issued guidelines for Eidul Azha in line with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, the document has been issued to provide health guidelines to the general public, cattle vendors and customers to control the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and  following precautionary measures at the cattle market while buying or selling a sacrificial animal.

    Guidelines for sellers:

    • Animal vendors will have to follow the following guidelines while selling an animal at the cattle market.
    • It is necessary for all animal vendors and sellers to get vaccinated with any of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Those without proof of vaccination (first dose or complete course) may not be allowed to do business in the market.
    • Every seller must wear a face mask covering nose and mouth all the time.
    • The seller should wash their hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser.
    • Stalls should be set up at a distance of at least two metres from each other while ensuring enough space between animals. The supporting arrangements must be made by the local authority.
    • Seller and customers should try and maintain a safe distance of two metres. 
    • Seller and customer must not shake hands and avoid any other physical contact 
    • The seller must keep a disinfection formulation with 0.5% diluted bleach or 60%-80% dilute alcohol solution to disinfect the most frequently used surfaces by customers. 
    • Each salesperson must wear gloves for touching the animals. 
    • Any seller with symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever etc., would not be allowed to sell animals in the market. They will have to arrange a replacement for themselves.
    • Each seller must ensure queue control and maintaining the advised two metres distance in his allocated space in the market/ mandii. 
    • The sellers must keep themselves aware of the updated instructions issued by the government and should strictly follow them.

    Read More: Eid ul Azha: 5 things that can only happen in Pakistan

    Guidelines for Customers:

    • The buyer must wear a surgical/medical mask properly (cover nose and mouth) at all times.
    • The customers should not go to the market/ mandii if they are feeling any flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat or fever.
    • Sanitise hands properly before and after going to the market.
    • Buyers should also wear gloves if they plan to touch the animals.
    • People visiting the market should avoid touching the surfaces in the market unnecessarily. 
    • Maintain two metres distance from the seller or other peoplepresent in the market.
    • Follow the safety guidance provided by the local management and cooperate with the staff
    • If a customer observes non-compliance to the guidelines by the individual seller, remind them and/or report to the local authorities.
  • How to get your Covid-19 vaccination certificate

    How to get your Covid-19 vaccination certificate

    As the coronavirus vaccination drive is speeding up in Pakistan, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) has allowed restaurants to operate at 50 per cent indoor capacity for vaccinated individuals only.

    One of the most common questions on people’s minds these days is how do I get my vaccination certificate? Here is how you can get it:

    Step 1

    The first step is to visit the National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) website and enter the details of your computerised national identity card (CNIC). The certificate’s fee is Rs100 that can be paid through your debit or credit card.

    The certificate can also be downloaded if you have received only your first shot of the vaccination or you can visit a National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) centre to get your vaccination certificate.

    Step 2

    In the next step, enter the required details, i.e. your name and nationality.

    Step 3

     Enter your payment details.

    Step 4

    After paying the amount, you can download a receipt, check your information and then your certificate will be ready to download.

  • Fourth wave of coronavirus ‘could emerge in Pakistan in July’, warns Asad Umar

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has warned that a fourth wave of coronavirus could emerge in Pakistan in the month of July.

    “Reviewed the artificial intelligence based disease modeling analysis today in NCOC,” wrote the minister in a tweet.

    “In the absence of strong SOP enforcement and continued strong vaccination program, the 4th wave could emerge in Pakistan in July,” he added.

    The minister concluded by advising people to follow Covid-related SOPs, “Please adhere to sop’s and vaccinate as soon as possible.”

    As per the national tally on Thursday, Pakistan recorded 1,052 new cases of Covid-19 , while 44 people lost their life to the deadly virus.

  • PM Khan asks Bill Gates to set up a Microsoft incubation lab in Pakistan

    PM Khan asks Bill Gates to set up a Microsoft incubation lab in Pakistan

    Prime Minister Imran Khan (PM) encouraged Microsoft to expand its footprint in Pakistan and set up a Microsoft incubation lab in the country.

    PM spoke with Bill Gates, co-chair of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), in a telephonic conversation on Thursday.

    During the phone call, views were exchanged on the ongoing polio eradication campaign in the country as well as on Pakistan’s response to the public health challenges arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

    PM Khan reaffirmed that polio eradication remained a key national priority for the government and earnest efforts were afoot to further intensify the anti-polio campaign across the country, despite the challenges imposed by the Covid-19 crisis, in order to achieve a polio-free Pakistan.

    Bill Gates expressed his appreciation for PM Khan’s leadership for this national cause. He added that while progress is encouraging, keeping up pressure will be the key to ending transmission for good.

  • Karachiites ignore Covid-19 protocols, as people head to beaches to beat the heat

    Karachiites ignore Covid-19 protocols, as people head to beaches to beat the heat

    Pakistan has shown great progress in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    However, Karachiites seemed to have completely ignored the government’s call for maintaining precautions during the third wave. Videos on social media show how crowded the beaches were on the weekend.

    People gathered at the beach to beat the heat. Temperatures regularly hover around 40 degrees and the humidity only makes it worse.

    Pakistan has only fully vaccinated 3.4 million people. The government has asked citizens to avoid crowds and maintain social distancing.

    The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country are 949,175 with positivity rate of 2.6 per cent.

  • Pakistan reports lowest Covid-19 positivity rate in 2021

    Pakistan reports lowest Covid-19 positivity rate in 2021

    Pakistan has reported the lowest Covid-19 positivity rate so far this year. During the last 24 hours, the positivity rate was recorded as 1.9 per cent.

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 54,647 tests were conducted during this period of which 1,043 samples came back positive.

    Earlier this week, for the first time since February 15, Pakistan reported less than 1,000 cases.

  • Covid-19 vaccine shortage is temporary, says Dr Faisal Sultan

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan while addressing a press conferences said that the government has secured sufficient vaccine doses in the month of June to ramp up the vaccination drive in the country, Associated Press of Pakistan has reported.

    “There are more than 2,000 vaccination centres in the country and the number of visitors varies. So there may be a shortage of vaccines in some centres,” he said, adding that the shortage of vaccine in some centres is only temporary.

    Dr Faisal further said, “We have two million doses available and vaccination will continue to protect citizens from carrying coronavirus.” He assured that the vaccine situation would improve after June 20 as more vaccines would reach Pakistan by then.

    As per the national tally on Wednesday, total active Covid-19 cases were 39,905, while 1,038 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 2,016 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours.