Tag: covid pakistan

  • Delta variant most dominant in Karachi with 92 per cent cases

    Delta Variant has become the most dominant Covid-19 variant in Karachi, which accounts for 92 per cent of the infection cases in the city.

    “Our experts at the National Institute of Virology at the University of Karachi analysed 90 Covid samples on July 14 and 15, and of them, 83 or over 92 per cent, were of the Delta variant. This is an extremely alarming situation,” said Dr Iqbal Chaudhry, director of KU’s International Centre for Chemical & Biological Sciences.

    To deal with the rising number of Covid-19 cases, health officials have begun reserving more beds, wards, and human resources at two major tertiary-care hospitals in Karachi.

    “A surgical ward comprising 48 beds is being converted into a Covid-19 ward at the Civil Hospital Karachi [CHK], while the pulmonology ward at the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre has also been put on standby to deal with the rising cases due to the Delta variant, which is now spreading like wildfire in the city,” a Sindh Health Department official told The News.

  • Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crosses 5 per cent

    Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crossed 5 per cent for the first time after nearly two months.

    The current infection rate stands at 5.2 per cent with a continuous spike in the cases.

    National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) data from Thursday shows that 48,910 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and 2,545 of them came back positive for coronavirus.

    With 47 new fatalities from the virus, the national death tally soared to 22,689.

    NCOC chief Asad Umar warned: “Indian variant has caused devastation in countries in the region.”

    Umar asked everyone to follow the directives necessary in relevance to Covid protocol and said, “Do not risk your own and others lives.”

  • Early signs of fourth Covid wave in Pakistan, warns Asad Umar

    Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar Friday said there are clear early signs of the fourth Covid-19 wave starting in Pakistan due to poor compliance of SOPs and the spread of the Delta variant.

    The federal minister, who is also the chief of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said that he had warned two weeks back that the government’s artificial intelligence models are showing possible emergence of the fourth wave in July.

    Asad Umar added that field reports were showing a complete disregard of the condition of vaccination for those attending indoor weddings, and going to indoor restaurants and gyms.

    “If the owners of these facilities do not show responsibility and ensure compliance, there will be no choice but to shut them down,” said Umar.

    Pakistan recently recorded a positivity rate of 3.27 per cent. The last time the positivity rate was 3 per cent was in June.

    The present positivity rate of the virus is 3.6 per cent.

    Asad Umar expressed displeasure over non-compliance with the Covid-19 protocols and warned of shutting down sectors not adhering to the directives issued by the health authorities.

  • 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.

  • Pakistan allows AstraZeneca vaccine for individuals under 40

    The Pakistan government has revised guidelines for AstraZeneca vaccines and allowed citizens who are 18 or older to get the jab which was earlier restricted to those aged over 40, Reuters has reported.

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan while talking to Geo News, said that Pakistanis who are travelling to Saudi Arabia can get the Oxford vaccine after showing their documents.

    Saudi Arabia has approved four Covid-19 vaccines for those who want to avoid quarantine, namely AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson and Johnson.

    As of June 15, the total number of vaccines administered in Pakistan has reached 12,067,171.

  • Punjab considers blocking SIM cards of unvaccinated citizens

    In a meeting chaired by Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid regarding the Covid-19 situation in the province, several recommendations were given by officials to speed up the vaccination process, SAMAA has reported.

    During the meeting, the option to block the SIM cards of citizens who refuse to get themselves vaccinated against the coronavirus was also considered. Health officials also recommended in the meeting to ban the entry of unvaccinated citizens to shopping malls and restaurants.

    “It is difficult to get rid of the coronavirus pandemic without vaccination,” said Dr Yamin Rashid during the meeting.

    Meanwhile, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar on Wednesday announced that 10 million doses of coronavirus vaccines have been administered in Pakistan so far.

  • COVID-19: Walk-in vaccines for people above 18 to start soon

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced that walk-in vaccination for citizens above 18 years of age will be available in Pakistan from June 11 (Friday). The decision was made in the NCOC session held today.

    It was also decided in the meeting that vaccination centres will remain open from 8am to 10pm daily from June 11, except on Sundays.

    Other decisions taken in the meeting will be implemented from June 15, which are:

    • Restriction on the closure of two days a week will be relaxed to one day. Choice of the day will be at the discretion of the federating units.
    • Partial opening of indoor gyms for vaccinated members only.
    • Only selective non-contact sports will be permitted, while the ban on contact sports(karate, boxing, MMA, rugby, kabbadi, wrestling, water polo) and festivals, cultural and other events will remain imposed.
    • Ban on the closure of shrines will remain imposed.
    • Cinemas will remain closed.
    • Existing 50 percent work from a home policy will be relaxed to 100 per cent office attendance.
    • Two days weekly ban on inter-provincial transportation will be lifted.
    • Restriction regarding 50 per cent occupancy for public transport will be relaxed to 70 percent occupancy.
    • Current restrictions already announced by NCOC regarding recreation, education sector, mask-wearing SOP, Railways and inbound passengers policy will remain in place till further order.

  • Students vaccinated with Covaxin, Sputnik V, asked to get re-vaccinated in US

    Students at universities in the United States are being asked to re-vaccinate themselves if they have been vaccinated against Covid-19 with Indian-made Covaxin or Russia’s Sputnik V as these vaccinations are still not approved by World Health Organizations, Hindustan Times has reported.

    Milloni Doshi, 25 years of age who will be joining Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs soon and has already been administered two doses of Covaxin in India says, “I am just concerned about taking two different vaccines. They said the application process would be the toughest part of the cycle, but it’s really been all of this that has been uncertain and anxiety-inducing.”

    On the concerns of having two different vaccines, spokesperson for the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Kristen Nordlund said: “Since Covid-19 vaccines are not interchangeable, the safety and effectiveness of receiving two different vaccines have not been studied.”

  • ‘Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government’: PM Khan

    ‘Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government’: PM Khan

    Addressing a ceremony to lay the foundation for the upgradation of the Multan-Lodhran section of the N-5 Motorway, Prime Minister Imran Khan said, “Those who call themselves democratic are demanding the military to topple the government.”

    “From day one, the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government faced criticism from the Opposition, which was poised to topple the government unless their leaders were given an NRO (National Reconciliation Ordinance),” said Khan.

    “These mafias are bent upon doing anything to safeguard their interests as billions of dollars stashed by them abroad through money looted in the country are being probed,” he said. PM added that rule of law changes society and ensures that there are no sugar and land mafias.

    “Change is not possible without a struggle,” Khan said adding that the Opposition raised a hue and cry regarding a change a week after they [PTI] took power.

    “My own people had to face a tough time. The media also gave an impression that Naya Pakistan can emerge by switching a button on,” he said.

    PM Khan said the country registered a growth of 4 per cent this financial year despite the challenge of the Covid-19 pandemic. He said we not only saved our people from the pandemic, but also the economy.

    The government is focusing on uplifting the agriculture sector, industries, IT, housing and tourism sectors, he said, adding that a package is being introduced for the farmers to bring a green revolution in the country.

  • Who will get the Pfizer vaccine in Pakistan?

    Who will get the Pfizer vaccine in Pakistan?

    Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said on Thursday that the government has decided to prioritise giving the Pfizer vaccine to those who have a work visa. The government aims is to inoculate Hajj pilgrims and students proceeding for education abroad first.

    The federal minister said that the government is working hard to accelerate the vaccination process across the country so that restrictions are lifted and businesses are resumed.

    Umar, replying to a question, said that Pakistan had received a limited quantity of Pfizer this month and therefore, preference for its administration had to be given to some segments.

    However, he added, Pakistan would receive more doses of Pfizer in the future.

    The minister further warned that countries not accepting vaccination certificates of Chinese vaccines would turn out to be a problem for the entire world if a decision was not taken on the issue at the global level.