Tag: covid 19

  • New wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan

    New wave of COVID-19 in Pakistan

    Pakistan is seeing another wave of COVID-19 in the country. On Saturday, the country saw over 2,000 cases reported for the second consecutive day, which means more than a 20 per cent increase in cases. These numbers are the highest since July. Seventeen people lost their lives to the coronavirus on Saturday as per the data from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). Geo’s Arshad Waheed Chaudhry also lost his battle against COVID-19 on Saturday.

    After successfully controlling the pandemic, Pakistan’s new cases also point to the fact that people have become complacent in following the SOPs necessary till a vaccine comes out and is readily available across the country. From less than 6,000 active cases in September, we now have 24,938 active cases. While the NCOC has imposed a ban on indoor weddings in major cities with “high positivity and higher disease spread potential”, marriage hall owners are refusing to follow the government’s guidelines. They say that the new SOPs would not just lead to financial problems for the marriage hall owners but thousands of employees and businesses associated with the wedding industry would also suffer economic marginalisation.

    Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood tweeted yesterday: “We have convened an important meeting of provincial education ministers on Monday at 11 am to discuss the latest coronavirus situation in the country. As stated before health of students is our no one priority.” Most schools across the country have reopened. Punjab’s Education Minister Dr Murad Raas also tweeted that there is a meeting of all provincial education ministers tomorrow to discuss the prevailing condition of COVID-19. “In my opinion, we should focus on a Smart Lockdown rather than an across the board shutdown of Schools,” tweeted Raas. NCOC has decided to close cinemas, theatres and shrines.

    The government will now have to decide what measures to take next. The new wave is turning out to be quite dangerous. The opposition parties are taking out rallies across the country while the government, too, has held some jalsas recently. Not many were seen following the SOPs, i.e. wearing masks, maintaining social distancing, etc.

    Such large gatherings apart from social gatherings will lead to more increase in the number of corona cases. It is time that all political parties as well as the people of Pakistan show responsibility before this new wave turns into a nightmare. Some organisations in the country have started implementing work from home again. Others may have to follow in case there is an increase in cases.

    There have also been some instances of faulty test results in recent months. Some people who have tested positive have had their tests done the next day from a different laboratory only to find out they were negative. The government also needs to increase testing across the country. We hope that this time around, the people will follow proper SOPs so that the new wave can be curtailed as soon as possible.

  • Younger adults more vulnerable to COVID-19

    The second wave of COVID-19 has arrived in Pakistan with full force taking the total number of infections to 352,296 .

    As per details, 108,822 COVID-19 cases have been reported in Punjab so far. In a related development, the Punjab government has compiled a study, which shows the people belonging to the 31-45 age group are more vulnerable to the infection, followed by the 16-30 age group, contradicting earlier reports that the younger generations are less vulnerable to the virus.

    One of the reasons given for younger generations to get infected more is due to their outdoor activities/movement. A senior official of the health department says most of the people of these age groups attend educational institutions, do jobs or run businesses and many of them interact with people at their workplaces or educational institutions without preventive measures.

    Being asymptomatic patients, they transmit virus to their elderly family members or multiply the positive cases by interacting with other people. The members of these two age groups need extraordinary care by wearing masks and reducing their outdoor activities, stated the official.

    As per reports, statistics show that out of the total confirmed cases in Punjab, 32,060 people of 31-45 age group and 29,849 of other age groups have tested positive for the virus so far.

    The data further shows the health professionals attending COVID-19 patients in health facilities are also most vulnerable to the coronavirus due to their exposure to it.

  • Judge, who wanted Musharraf hanged at D-Chowk, succumbs to COVID-19

    Judge, who wanted Musharraf hanged at D-Chowk, succumbs to COVID-19

    Peshawar High Court Chief Justice Waqar Ahmad Seth, 59, has passed away due to coronavirus on Friday.

    Justice Seth had tested positive for COVID-19 on October 22 and was subsequently moved to a hospital in Peshawar, a report in Dawn said. The judge was later shifted to to a private hospital in Islamabad in a critical condition.

    He leaves behind a wife and a daughter.

    Justice Seth took oath as chief justice of the PHC on June 28, 2018. During his tenure as the CJ, he issued important verdicts, specifically the acquittal of over 70 convicts most of whom were handed down death sentences by military courts.

    The deceased jurist was also the head of a special court that had sentenced former military dictator Gen Pervez Musharraf to death by hanging in a high treason case.

    Both the government and the army had expressed “anger” over a specific paragraph 66 of the detailed judgement and termed it “unlawful”, “inhuman” and “unconstitutional”.

    Para 66 of the verdict read: “We direct the law enforcement agencies to strive their level best to apprehend the fugitive/convict [Pervez Musharraf] and to ensure that the punishment is inflicted as per law and if found dead, his corpse be dragged to the D-Chowk [in front of the Parliament House], Islamabad, Pakistan, and be hanged for three days.”

    CONDOLENCES POUR IN:

    Prime Minister Imran Khan expressed grief on the demise of the judge.

  • PM approves funds for purchase of COVID-19 vaccine

    PM approves funds for purchase of COVID-19 vaccine

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has approved funding for the advance purchase of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to a statement released by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulation on Thursday.

    The Health Ministry said that the prime minister has shown special interest in ensuring quality vaccines at the earliest and has approved funding in this regard. The ministry said the government has developed a COVID-19 vaccine strategy in response to global best practices.

    According to the statement, under this strategy, the government has prioritised the groups most likely to be the initial recipients of a potential vaccine. It said an expert committee on the COVID-19 vaccine has been working on technical oversight and review of safety and efficacy data coming in from trials.

    Earlier, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan confirmed that the PM has approved funds to purchase the possible vaccines of COVID-19 in advance. The funds were approved after the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination had written a letter to PM Imran Khan for advance booking of coronavirus vaccines.

    Earlier on November 4, it was learnt that the health ministry has recommended purchases of potential coronavirus vaccines under last-stage trials and allocation of $100 million funds for its advance booking.

    The ministry recommended allocation of $100 million in funds for the purchases of vaccines on an emergency basis for around 10 million nationals. In its first phase, the vaccines will be made available for elderly citizens and health workers.

  • ‘Pakistan got no reason to celebrate Pfizer vaccine’

    A day after Pfizer, a US pharmaceutical company, announced 90 per cent effective coronavirus vaccine, Pakistan’s anti-coronavirus task force head Dr Attaur Rahman said that it was “too early to celebrate the success” for multiple reasons.

    In a statement on Monday, Pfizer said that an early peek at the data suggested the shots may be a surprisingly robust 90% effective at preventing COVID-19. “We’re in a position potentially to be able to offer some hope,” Dr Bill Gruber, Pfizer’s senior vice president of clinical development, told The Associated Press. “We’re very encouraged.”

    Reacting to the celebrations, Dr Rahman said the vaccine would not be suitable for Pakistan owing to multiple problems, especially the storage issue.

    According to the task force chairman, the vaccine needs to be kept at a temperature of -80 °C, which was a major problem for third world countries, including Pakistan.

    “We should not think much about this vaccine, instead focus on other vaccines that are being developed and have seen similar results but haven’t been announced with fanfare. They are working quietly,” said Dr Rahman.

    It may be noted here that the number of coronavirus cases are soaring across Pakistan amid resurgence of the virus. On Monday, Pakistan registered over 1,500 infections and over a dozen deaths.

    The government, as a result, has tighten restrictions to curb the infection rate.

    PFIZER VACCINE:

    Dr Anthony Fauci, the US government’s top-infectious disease expert, said the results suggesting 90% effectiveness are “just extraordinary,” adding: “Not very many people expected it would be as high as that.”

    “It’s going to have a major impact on everything we do with respect to COVID,” Fauci said.

    Pharmaceutical companies and various countries are in a global race to develop a vaccine against the virus. Fauci said that the Pfizer vaccine and virtually all others in testing target the spike protein the coronavirus uses to infect cells, so the results validate that approach.

    Monday’s announcement doesn’t mean a vaccine is imminent: This interim analysis, from an independent data monitoring board, looked at 94 infections recorded so far in a study that has enrolled nearly 44,000 people in the US and five other countries. Some participants got the vaccine, while others got dummy shots.

    Pfizer Inc. did not provide any more details about those infections and cautioned that the initial protection rate might change by the time the study ends. Even revealing such early data is highly unusual.

    Authorities have stressed it’s unlikely any vaccine will arrive much before the end of the year, and initial supplies will be rationed.

  • Usman Mukhtar recovers from COVID-19

    Usman Mukhtar recovers from COVID-19

    Usman Mukhtar has recovered from COVID-19, ten days after testing positive for the virus.

    Read more – Pakistani celebrities who recently tested positive for COVID-19

    In a social media update, the actor said: “By the grace of God and your best wishes my COVID test came out negative.”

    “I am overwhelmed by your support; the journey itself has been overwhelming,” he added.

    Usman also urged fans to be safe.

    “Please stay safe and stay healthy. It’s important for us to consider this is not just for ourselves but also for people around us.”

    Mukhtar had tested positive for COVID-19 on October 29. Earlier, on October 5, the actor had shared that he was “feeling much better and getting stronger everyday”.

  • School provides relief to students by accepting tuition fees in coconuts

    School provides relief to students by accepting tuition fees in coconuts

    An Indonesian hospitality college has planned to provide relief to the students having financial slowdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic by offering them to pay their tuition fee in coconuts and other natural materials like moringa and Gotu kola leaves.

    According to details, the students of Venus One Tourism Academy in Gianyar – Bali have been allowed to pay their tuition and other fees in coconuts. The school has aimed to use it for harvesting virgin coconut oil.

    They were also permitted to pay fees with moringa and Gotu kola leaves that could be used to produce products like herbal soap.

    The school officials told local media that the products made from the natural materials will be sold on campus to raise funds.

    They added that many precautionary measures have been made functional at the school amid the coronavirus pandemic to remain open including face masks, reduced class sizes and temperature checks.

  • Punjab reports surge in COVID-19 with 340 new cases in a day

    Punjab reports surge in COVID-19 with 340 new cases in a day

    Punjab on Tuesday reported as many as 340 new cases of the coronavirus, which is the highest single-day surge since July 21.

    As per reports, the number of confirmed cases reported across the province has risen to 104,894 so far.

    According to the Primary and Secondary Health Department, seven more people died due to the coronavirus, lifting the death toll from the disease in the province to 2,372.

    On November 2, provincial authorities had sealed numerous places to curb the virus spread under the micro-smart lockdown. The Punjab government has sealed 830 places across the province after spiking in COVID-19 cases. In these areas, 1416 cases of novel coronavirus were reported. The micro-smart lockdown has been imposed in 435 spots in Lahore, which is the maximum number of areas sealed in the province

  • Ameer Gilani becomes the latest celebrity to test positive for COVID-19

    Ameer Gilani becomes the latest celebrity to test positive for COVID-19

    Sabaat’s Ameer Gillani has tested positive for coronavirus, days after his co-star Usman Mukhtar announced that he had also contracted the disease. The actor revealed his test results in a question-answer session on his Instagram stories.

    A number of actors and models have recently shared that they are in quarantine because they have tested positive for coronavirus.

    Detailing his experience, Gilani said, “I was unable to connect with my fans and answer your questions. But now I am able to answer your questions because I am isolating in my room and you all know that why you isolate yourself.”

    “That’s because I’m COVID positive and there is no sense of taste and smell. I request you all to remember me and my family in your prayers as your prayers are very powerful.”

    He further said: “If you look at the bright side, we can interact and communicate because of this. So remember me in your prayers.”

    The actor also shared pictures of his grandfather’s phone call interview on a news channel where he confirmed that his son and grandson have tested positive for coronavirus.

    While requesting for prayers, Ameer’s grandfather senior lawyer Iftikhar Gilani got emotional.

  • Pakistan helping Syria out in its fight against COVID-19

    Pakistan helping Syria out in its fight against COVID-19

    A Pakistani plane loaded with medical assistance, aimed at supporting the efforts of the Syrian government to confront the coronavirus pandemic, reached the Damascus International Airport on Sunday.

    Pakistan’s National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) organised the aid, including medical equipment, masks, protective gears and other health items, on the request of the Syrian government. Syrian Deputy Foreign and Expatriates Minister Faisal Mikdad expressed gratitude to Pakistani government for supporting Syria, and stated that the shipment sent by Pakistan, was the largest shipment ever received by the country during the health crisis.

    Currently, Syria is considered vulnerable to the pandemic due to dire humanitarian situation and the civil war that has been ongoing for nearly a decade. The total number of COVID-19 infections registered in Syria has reached at 5789, out of which 2021 ones have recovered while 292 others have died.

    Under this situation, Syrian Deputy Health Minister Ahmad Khleifawi stressed the importance of this aid in supporting the country’s health sector, as reported by a Syrian state-run news agency (SANA).

    Since the beginning of the crisis in Syria, some countries have reduced their diplomatic activities in Damascus, but Pakistan has maintained its unbiased political stance towards the war-torn country.

    After receiving the aid, Pakistani Ambassador to Damascus Saeed Muhammad Khan ensured that the aid would be effectively distributed to hospitals and authorities in Syria.