Tag: Panademic

  • New Covid symptom only occurs at night

    New Covid symptom only occurs at night

    A leading immunologist has warned that a new Covid variant can cause a different symptom that only occurs at night.

    BA.5 was first discovered in South Africa earlier this year. It is a highly-contagious subvariant that can cause night sweats. The variant is contributing to a fresh wave of infections across the world.

    Professor Luke O’Neill from Trinity College Dublin called this symptom “strange”.

    “One extra symptom from BA.5 I saw this morning is night sweats.”

    “The disease is slightly different because the virus has changed. But if you are vaccinated and you’re boosted, it doesn’t progress into the severe disease,” Professor O’Neill added.

    BA.5’s ability to reinfect is concerning to healthcare professionals. It is pertinent to mention that previously, if a person had been infected with SARS-CoV-2, they were considered safe from the virus after one cycle ended. With the subvariants, this is not the case anymore.

  • 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 closed, PM Khan congratulates NCOC team for ‘professional, nationally coordinated response’

    NCOC closed, PM Khan congratulates NCOC team for ‘professional, nationally coordinated response’

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has congratulated the team of the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) on their brilliant performance in tackling the Covid-19 pandemic.

    “I want to congratulate the NCOC team & its leadership for a professional, nationally-coordinated response to the pandemic. As a result, our Covid response was recognised by int agencies & people in the field as one of the most successful globally,” he tweeted.

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar in a tweet said, “Today is last day of NCOC operation. With covid indicators at all time lows & high levels of vaccination, baton now being passed on to the health ministry. Chairing NCOC during last 2 years & working with the most dedicated team has been the greatest privilege and honour of my life.”

    Read more- NCOC decides to lift all covid related restrictions

    Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Dr Faisal Sultan on March 12 announced that the government has decided to shut down the NCOC.

  • Pakistan reports no deaths due to Covid for the first time in two years

    Pakistan reports no deaths due to Covid for the first time in two years

    For the first time since the outbreak of Covid-19 in the country, Pakistan has reported zero Covid deaths today (Wednesday).

    The country witnessed a slight rise in cases, with a 1.28 per cent positivity rate and 443 reported new cases, as per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    However, the country has been maintaining a positivity rate below 2 per cent since mid-March.

    Earlier, NCOC chief Asad Umar had announced the decision to lift all the Covid-19 related restrictions but made it clear that the vaccination restriction would not be lifted.

    On March 12, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (PM) on National Health Services, Regulations, and Coordination, Dr Faisal Sultan announced the government’s decision to shut down NCOC.

    In recent months, the rate of Covid cases in Pakistan has remained low after almost three years of fighting the global pandemic.

  • Khairpur health workers inject at least 150 police officers with expired vaccine

    Khairpur health workers inject at least 150 police officers with expired vaccine

    At least 150 officers of the Khairpur police department were injected with expired Covid-19 vaccines, confirmed by the Police Training Centre, reports Geo News.

    After the incident, an inquiry report stated that the date of expiry for the vaccine was December 2021, while the vaccine was administered on January 24.

    Four police officers out of 170 got sick due after getting an expired booster dose. Five health workers, including Dr Amar Lal were found responsible for the act.

    The inquiry report states that the incident took place due to the negligence of a storekeeper, a technician, a male nurse, and a vaccinator in Sukkur, and that action should be taken against those responsible.

  • Positivity rate 35% in KHI: Sindh announces Covid restrictions but no lockdown

    Positivity rate 35% in KHI: Sindh announces Covid restrictions but no lockdown

    Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has announced new Covid-19 restrictions in the province amid the sharp surge in infections of the deadly virus. The positivity rate in the city’s capital has reached 35 percent. Despite the high positivity rate, no lockdown will be imposed in the city.

    A meeting of The Sindh Task Force chaired by CM Sindh was held today in which the decision to not close the educational institutes in the province was made.

    However, new Covid-19 restrictions were decided in the meeting. The restrictions include:

    • Government employees flouting the SOPs, including the mask-wearing rule, will have to pay a fine to be deducted from their salary
    • Food at weddings to be distributed in boxes
    • Wearing mask has been made compulsory in all Public Places
    • Authorities to check vaccination cards
    • Only vaccinated people will be allowed in markets

    As per NCOC, Pakistan recorded 4286 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with four people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    Makkah Grand Mosque drops social distancing first time since pandemic

    The Grand Mosque in the holy city of Makkah, on Sunday, operated at full capacity with worshippers praying shoulder-to-shoulder, and floor markings that guide people to social distance in and around the mosque were also removed, reports Al Jazeera.

    According to an official Saudi Press Agency, “This is in line with the decision to ease precautionary measures and to allow pilgrims and visitors to the Grand Mosque at full capacity.”

    Despite the lifting of social distancing measures, the authorities said visitors must be fully vaccinated against coronavirus and must continue to wear masks on mosque grounds.

    Pictures and footage of worshippers performing Muslim prayers are making rounds on social media.

    In Saudi Arabia, the authorities also lifted curbs on fully vaccinated people at closed venues, gatherings, transportation, restaurants and cinemas. Masks are no longer mandatory in open public places.

    Earlier, in July, only about 60,000 citizens and residents were allowed to take part in the annual Hajj pilgrimage.