Tag: pakistan covid

  • Mask up: Covid positivity rate jumps to 3.19%

    Mask up: Covid positivity rate jumps to 3.19%

    According to the National Institute of Health (NIH),435 cases of Covid-19 with a positivity rate of 3.19 per cent were reported in Pakistan on June 24.

    The number of confirmed cases have jumped to 1,533,482. One death was reported in the last 24 hours. A total of 13,64 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours .

    In April, Pakistan reported zero Covid-19-related deaths for the first time since the breakout of the pandemic in the country.

    In March this year, the government announced the closure of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The body was set up in March 2020 to deal with Covid-19.

  • Surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan

    Surge in Covid-19 cases in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s Covid-19 positivity rate has gone to 1.22 per cent today (Thursday), according to the National Institute of Health (NIH), Islamabad.

    According to NIH data, 144 people have been found infected with the virus and one death has been reported.

    The positivity rate was at 0.83 per cent on Wednesday with 106 cases.

    In April, Pakistan reported zero Covid-19-related deaths for the first time since the breakout of the pandemic in the country.

    In March, the government announced the closure of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC). The body was set up in March 2020 to deal with Covid-19.

  • NCOC lowers age limit for Covid-19 booster shot to 30

    NCOC lowers age limit for Covid-19 booster shot to 30

    The National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) announced its decision to lower the age limit for the administration of Covid-19 booster shot for people who got both their shots six months back. Pakistanis aged 30 or above can now get a booster shot of their own choice across Pakistan from January 1, 2022.

    Only Sinopharm, Sinovac, and Pfizer will be given as booster shots. The booster shot will be administered free of cost.

    Health workers, immunocompromised people and anyone above or of the age of 30 years is eligible for a booster shot.

    Earlier this month, NCOC had approved a booster shot of Covid-19 vaccines for healthcare workers, those aged over 50 years, and immunocompromised people.

  • Asad Umar says unvaccinated people are seven times more likely to get Covid

    Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Friday said unvaccinated people were seven times more likely to contract the coronavirus than those inoculated.

    After the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting, the minister said vaccination was the only way solution to the virus.

    Umar later took to Twitter and said, “The data analytics run by the NCOC team shows that comparative data of Pakistani’s who have been vaccinated versus those who are not vaccinated shows a marked difference in risk. The unvaccinated Pakistani’s are at 7 times higher risk of getting covid. Please get vaccinated.”

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said every day around 2,500 new cases were being reported, warning that the Delta variant was spreading fast.

  • 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.

  • Covid positivity rate nearing 4 per cent in Pakistan

    Covid positivity rate nearing 4 per cent in Pakistan

    Pakistan’s positivity rate is closing in on 4 per cent, with the current positivity rate at 3.79 per cent.

    Daily coronavirus caseload stayed over 1,500 for the fourth consecutive day after the country reported 1,828 new cases Saturday morning.

    The latest data issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday morning shows that 48,134 tests were conducted on July 9, out of which 1,828 people tested positive for coronavirus.

    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 NCOC chief 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.

  • ‘Ban on Eid travel’ – Govt announces strategy for Eid

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced Eid-ul-Fitr Holidays in Pakistan from May 10 to May 15. The announcement came after NCOC’s meeting on Thursday which was chaired by Minister for Development and Planning Asad Umar.

    During the meeting, NCOC also recommended restricting international flights to Pakistan from May 5 to May 20, according to Samaa News. However, the detailed instructions will be issued by The Civil Aviation Authority.

    Comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be issued for Youm-e-Ali, Aitekaf, Shab-e-Qadar, Juma-tul-Wida, and Eid prayers by May 1, said the press release.

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had earlier advised the government to give Eid Holidays from May 10 to 16 as the country battles the most lethal wave of coronavirus.

    To reduce mobility during the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitar NCOC has announced a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” strategy from May 8 to May 16.

    Here are the Comprehensive guidelines by the name of “STAY HOME-STAY SAFE — Eid-ul-Fitr-2021 from 8-16 May 2021” announced by NCOC:

    • All markets, businesses, and shops will remain closed except for essential services.
    • Chaand Raat bazaars will be banned.
    • Complete ban on tourism
    • Inter-provincial, inter-city, and intra-city public transport will be banned but private vehicles will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity.
    • Media channels will broadcast special Eid Holiday packages to keep public at home.

    Vaccinations for people in Pakistan aged 40 to 49 years will open May 3, the NCOC also decided in the meeting.

    Pakistan is experiencing a third wave of coronavirus. As per NCOC, Pakistan has recorded 5,450 new cases and 151 deaths with a positivity rate of 9.61%. The 151 death toll is the highest Pakistan has seen since the pandemic began.

  • Asim Azhar urges students to sit home, cancel parties after exams postponed

    Asim Azhar, who had backed students on multiple occasions and rallied for their exams to be cancelled, has now urged them to cancel all parties and get-togethers and sit home till COVID ends. The Federal Government on Tuesday had announced that all exams have been cancelled till June 15 in view of rising coronavirus cases.

    “Mubarak bacho,” wrote Asim, after the news of the cancellation came.

    “Ab khuda ka waasta hai parties aur get togethers bhi cancel karna apne aur ghar baithna until we’re done with COVID,” he added.

    Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Tuesday had announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15 and that O’ and A’ Level exams will now take place in the October-November cycle. Students had long been demanding the government to cancel exams arguing that their study schedules had been disrupted due to COVID-19 and that they had been unable to prepare for the exams.

    Other celebrities including Mehwish Hayat, Adnan Siddiqui and Falak Shabir also appreciated the government’s decision to cancel exams.

    Meanwhile, Aijaz Aslam is disappointed that government is not considering the option of grade assessment.

    “What a mess this examination process has become,” remarked the actor.

    After the cancellation of exams, students are now demanding Teacher and School Assessed Grades with the hashtags #ShafqatDestroysOurCareer and #ResignShafqatMahmood trending on social media. Students are arguing that their study schedules have been disrupted because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and are demanding Teacher Assessed Grades (TAGs) and School Assessed Grades (SAGs).

  • ‘Vaccination registrations for all ages to open after Eid’

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has announced that the government plans to open registrations for COVID-19 vaccination for citizens of all age groups after Eid, which is around mid-May.

    According to a report in Gulf News, the minister made these remarks while talking to senior media persons in a press meet. He also said that Pakistan will be able to vaccinate more than 125,000 people per day after Eid.

    “We began a phase-wise approach at the beginning [and are expanding it now],” said Umar during the meeting, adding that the coming five to six weeks are very critical for Pakistan in the fight against coronavirus.

    The minister said that the private sector had also started vaccinations and so far 14,000 people have been vaccinated through that, while 1.1 million were inoculated as part of the government campaign.

    Umar also relayed that China was Pakistan’s “primary source” for vaccination and that the CanSino vaccine would also be available in the country after Eid.

    Meanwhile, Pakistan is all set to start manufacturing the Russian COVID-19 vaccine Sputnik V locally in collaboration with Russia in the coming months.

    Vaccinations of people 60 and above commenced on March 10, while registrations for people above 50 started from March 30.

    Pakistan is currently battling with its third wave of COVID-19. According to the NCOC, Pakistan has recorded 5312 cases of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours and 105 people have lost their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Mobile vaccination program launched for senior citizens in four cities

    The Government of Pakistan has launched a mobile vaccination service for senior citizens aged above 80 years and for differently-abled persons aged above 50. As per reports, the service is initially available in four cities of Punjab including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Faisalabad and Multan.

    Read more – Lahore: 550 doses of COVID-19 vaccine go missing from one hospital, 350 spoiled at another

    The step has been taken to speed up the process of vaccination amid a sharp rise in COVID-19 cases in the country.

    “Senior citizens who are 80 years and above and those with disabilities over 50 years of age don’t have to leave home for the vaccine as the government vaccine vans will reach them wherever they are,” said Punjab Minister for Health Dr Yasmin Rashid while talking about the initiative.

    Chief Minister Usman Buzdar urged people to get vaccinated and said “citizens can simply call the health helpline 1033 to get vaccinated at home.”

    Vaccinations for people over 60 years and above commenced on March 10, while registrations for people above 50 started last week on March 30.

    Meanwhile, 5234, people tested positive in the last 24 hours in Pakistan whereas, 83 people have lost their lives to the deadly virus. The positivity rate has jumped to 10.43 %.