Tag: PakistanCOVID

  • 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.

  • Start wearing masks again: Pak detects case of Omicron sub-variant

    Start wearing masks again: Pak detects case of Omicron sub-variant

    Pakistan has detected its first case of Omicron sub-variant, the National Institute of Health (NIH) announced.

    “NIH has detected the first case of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1. This new sub-variant is causing an increasing number of cases in different countries.”

    NIC also advised citizens to take preventive measures.

    “The best preventive measure (besides mask-wearing at crowded places) is Covid-19 vaccination. We strongly recommended getting vaccinated and all those due for boosters must get the shots immediately.”

    Read more- NCOC decides to lift all covid related restrictions

    The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), which was tackling Covid-19 in Pakistan, was shut down on March 31.

    On March 16, NCOC decided to lift all the Covid-19 related restrictions amid the decline in cases.

  • NCOC confirms first case of Omicron variant in Pakistan

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has confirmed the first case of the Omicron variant in Pakistan.

    “The National Institute of Health, Islamabad has been able to confirm that a recently suspected sample from Karachi is indeed the ‘Omicron variant’ of SARS-CoV2. This is the first confirmed case but continued surveillance of identified samples is in place to identify trends,” a tweet from the official Twitter handle of the Centre read.

    In another tweet, NCOC stressed upon the importance of getting vaccinated to stay safe from new variants.

    On December 8, the first suspected case of the Omicron variant was detected in Pakistan. The case was detected in a 57-year-old female patient, who was unvaccinated. As per, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho the patient had no travel history.

  • Pakistan lowers Covid vaccination eligibility age to 15

    Pakistan lowers Covid vaccination eligibility age to 15

    The government has officially decided to further lower the Covid vaccination eligibility age to 15 years, reported Geo News.

    Children between the ages of 15 and 18 will be vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine, the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) said.

    According to the NCOC, Pfizer vaccine will be available at all central vaccination centres across the country. Moreover a registration certificate will be required for children up to the age of 18 to be vaccinated.

    In combating the pandemic, the NCOC has also taken another step by sending mobile vaccination teams to visit schools and colleges for vaccination.

    Meanwhile, NCOC has said that all those people whose second dose against Covid-19 has become due are not required to wait for the sms message and can visit any vaccination centre throughout the week.

    A day earlier, NCOC head Asad Umar had announced on Twitter that more than 20 million people in Pakistan are now fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

    Pakistan has administered at least 66,456,245 doses of Covid vaccines so far. Assuming every person needs two doses, that’s enough to have vaccinated about 15.3 per cent of the country’s population.

  • NCOC Eid ul Azha guidelines: Sacrifice is not allowed at home

    The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced numerous guidelines for Eid ul Azha, which will be celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, in Pakistan. The NCOC has recommended that no Qurbani should be allowed at home/residential areas, reported Samaa.

    The government has requested the public to follow all the precautionary measures as the country is heading towards the fourth wave of coronavirus.

    The Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) regarding Qurbani include:

    Provinces to initiate awareness campaigns to educate people on the spread of the virus during meat distribution.

    Religious leaders told to encourage collective Qurbani.

    The skin of sacrificed animals will not be given to banned organisations.

    Minimum persons to be allowed at the Qurbani site.

    Last week, Special Assistant to the PM on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan stated that it is mandatory to wear masks and maintain distance from the crowds even for unvaccinated individuals.

    Following the outbreak of the Delta variant in Karachi, more restrictions have been imposed in various parts of the country. The positivity rate on July 20 remains at 5.25 percent.

  • ‘Educational institutions to remain closed till 23rd May’

    The National Command and Operation Centre has announced an extension in the closure of educational institutions given the prevailing situation of COVID-19 in the country. The decision was taken during the meeting of NCOC held earlier on Saturday.

    “In today’s NCOC session, it is decided that in view of ongoing disease trends, education institutes earlier closed till May 17 will continue to remain closed till May 23,” read a tweet from NCOC’s official Twitter account.

    “Review will be carried out on May 18, 2021,” it added.

    Earlier, the NCOC announced a complete ban on tourism, for both locals and outsiders. The ban shall be observed from May 8-16, the week leading up to and including the Eid holidays. In addition to that, all tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls; all hotels and restaurants in/around tourist/ picnic spots to remain closed.

    On May 7, Pakistan witnessed a death toll of 120. The country has recorded 4,109 confirmed COVID in the last 24 hours with a positivity rate of 8.54%.

  • Pakistan to receive first shipment of Oxford-Astrazeneca vaccine this week

    Pakistan is expected to receive its first shipment of the Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine by the end of this week under the COVAX program, Arab News has reported. The COVAX program is a global initiative to provide vaccines to countries lacking resources to procure or manufacture the vaccines on their own. 

    Quoting a top government official, the report said that Pakistan will receive the first shipment of 1.2 million doses of Oxford-Astrazeneca coronavirus vaccine on Friday.

    Through the COVAX vaccine facility, Pakistan has planned to vaccinate 20% of its population free of charge.

    As per, Rana Muhammad Safdar, director-general health at the Ministry of National Health Services, the first shipment will arrive from South Korea on May 7.

    “We are committed to vaccinating our maximum population as quickly as possible,” asserted Safdar.

    Pakistan’s vaccination drive began on March 10 with priority given to healthcare workers and senior citizens above 60. Later, vaccinations for those aged 50-59 were started on April 21. Meanwhile, registration for ages 40-49 started on April 27. You can register yourself by sending your CNIC number to 1166. Walk-in vaccinations are available for those aged 50 and above. As per the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), more than 2.5 million people have been vaccinated till now.

    Pakistan is experiencing a deadly third wave of Covid-19, with the positivity rate at an all-time high. According to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 3377 cases and 161 deaths were recorded in the country in the last 24 hours.