- World coronavirus cases have surged past 1,029,467
- Deaths have crossed 54,180 while recoveries are around 218,586
- USA tops the list of most cases while Italy has the highest death toll
- Pakistan’s tally has crossed 2,450 with 35 deaths and 126 recoveries
Three months after the first coronavirus cases were reported, the pandemic still shows no signs of abating with confirmed cases topping 1 million and death toll passing 54,000. The number of global coronavirus recoveries stands at 218,586.
China, the once epicenter of the pandemic, is now 5th on the list of countries most affected by the virus, preceded by Germany, Spain, Italy, and USA which now is the hub of the disease.
In death toll too, China is at the 5th spot with 3,322 fatalities. The most the virus has killed so far is in Italy with a toll of about 14,000, followed by Spain with 10,935, USA with 6,095, and France with 5,387 deaths.
In Pakistan, the tally of confirmed cases is about 2,450 with a death toll of 34 and recoveries standing at 107. The lockdowns, as in other parts of the virus-ridden world, are only getting tightened in Pakistan with no signs of easing.
Here are the latest updates:
Information ministry, ISPR to jointly deal with media over coronavirus
PM Imran Khan has decided that the information ministry, along with the DG ISPR, will coordinate and brief the media on the coronavirus situation, informed SAPM on Information and Broadcasting Firdous Ashiq Awan.
She added that a strategy to coordinate with the media is in the works and will be announced soon.
Special PIA flight brings back 194 stranded Pakistanis from Istanbul
The Pakistan Embassy, #Ankara, along with Consulate General of Pakistan, Istanbul @PakistaninIsta1 successfully repatriated 194 stranded Pakistani nationals, today, from #Istanbul International Airport to #Pakistan: @PakTurkey#APPNews pic.twitter.com/sq0H6s9xlH
— APP 🇵🇰 (@appcsocialmedia) April 3, 2020
KP reports 2 more deaths while 1 more patient dies in Sindh
Pakistan’s coronavirus death toll has climbed to 40 with the addition of three new deaths. Two of these were reported in KP where one patient each in Swat and Mansehra lost their battle against the virus.
Sindh’s coronavirus death toll rose to 14 with another patient dying of the disease. The deceased was a 54-year-old patient from Hyderabad with a compromised immune system owing to a previous underlying condition.
NEW CASES: Punjab 57, KP 32, Balochistan 6
Punjab has reported 57 more coronavirus cases as its tally reaches 1,069, confirmed its Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department. 3 of these were reported among inmates at Camp Jail Lahore.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tally also jumped by 32 new cases to 343, Directorate General Health Services has confirmed.
Balochistan saw its tally reaching 175 recording 6 new coronavirus cases. According to the provincial government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani, 9 of the affected persons are doctors.
#بلوچستان میں #كرونا وائرس سے متاثرہ افراد کی تعداد 175 ہوگئی۔
9 ڈاکٹرز سمیت 38 افراد میں مقامی سطح پر کرونا وائرس تصدیق ہوئی ہے۔
ابتک کل 19 مریض مکمل صحتیاب و 1 جاں بحق ہوا ہے۔
155 مریض زیر علاج ہیں جو صحت کے لحاظ سے مستحکم ہیں۔#CoronaVirusPakistan #CoronaFreePakistan— Liaquat Shahwani (@LiaquatShahwani) April 3, 2020
Punjab tally passes 1,000 with 84 new cases
Punjab’s confirmed coronavirus cases have crossed 1,000 with the addition of 84 new cases.
With this, the national tally also crosses the 2,500 mark.
NIH organizes Covid-19 Capacity Building session for the Community Volunteers
NIH arranged a Capacity Building session for the Community Volunteers of Community Services Program (CSP) Islamabad & Rawalpindi regarding COVID-19. pic.twitter.com/Ij8YFWXN1U
— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) April 3, 2020
Prime Minister Imran Khan visits National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC)
1) Prime Minister @ImranKhanPTI visited National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for COVID-19 in Islamabad today. pic.twitter.com/U7trJijmhU
— Prime Minister's Office (@PakPMO) April 3, 2020
Over 1,100 released from Multan quarantine
As many as 1,100 people who were housed in Multan quarantine are leaving for their homes after being declared healthy.
According to the city’s district authorities, the said people are being let go after completing their 14-day quarantine.
KP extends ‘public holidays’ till April 11
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Government has extended its Public holidays from April 6th to April 11th, 2020 in the wake the #COVID19 Pandemic. pic.twitter.com/HHKyt4BpHO
— Iftikhar Firdous (@IftikharFirdous) April 3, 2020
PM Imran Khan announces incentives for the construction sector
PM Imran Khan on Friday announced incentives for the construction sector. The highlights are as follows:
- Investors in the construction sector will not be asked to disclose source of income.
- Fixed taxation system for construction (taxed per square foot).
- For Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme investors will only pay 10% as tax.
- Withholding tax on materials used for construction except Cement and Steel will be exempted.
- No capital gain tax.
- Subsidy worth PKR 30bn announced for New Pakistan Housing Scheme.
- Construction Industry Development Board to be formed which will give construction sector an industry status.
LIVE: PM announces ‘massive’ package for the construction industry
PM @ImranKhanPTI announces a massive package for the construction industry. https://t.co/npKw0AIGJK
— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) April 3, 2020
Join WHO’s #HealthyAtHome challenge to stay healthy at home amid lockdown
Many people are making great sacrifices to #StayHome & protect their health & that of others from #COVID19.
Here some ideas to stay healthy:
🏃♀️Be active
🥕Eat healthy
🚭Don’t smoke
🧘♀️Meditate
📚Read booksJoin the new @WHO challenge & show us what you do to be #HealthyAtHome! pic.twitter.com/f9adab39Ci
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) April 2, 2020
Mob allegedly beat police officials in Karachi over prayer leader’s provocation
Footage of Liaquatabad block 7 Ghausia Masjid, the Imam provoked public for congregation prayers. When the Law enforcement agencies reached to arrest him, the ppl attacked them. #Karachi pic.twitter.com/wbufD1EsM7
— Furqan T. Siddiqui (@furqantsiddiqui) April 3, 2020
Sindh death toll jumps by 2 to 13
Reporting 2 new deaths, Sindh has added another 2 to its death toll which now stands at 13.
According to Meeran Yousuf, media coordinator to the Sindh health minister, both patients were residents of Karachi.
One was aged 60 and had heart problems while the other patient, 82, had renal issues.
Google’s report shows how Covid-19 has affected mobility in Pakistan
In its attempt to aid public health officials, Google is using the location data gathered from Smartphones to identify the change in trends in terms of mobility.
The data shown covers the past 48 to 72 hours, and the percentage reflects change between movement this month and late January.
For full story, click here.
Spain records over 900 virus deaths for second consecutive day
#BREAKING More than 900 virus deaths in Spain for second day running: govt pic.twitter.com/7mfxhtknnD
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) April 3, 2020
PM Imran Khan responds to a message from Facebook COO
PM Imran Khan responds to a message from Sheryl Sandberg who is the Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Facebook.
In her message to PM Imran Khan on his official Facebook page, Sheryl Sandberg had thanked appreciated PM Imran Khan saying:
“Thank you for your partnership. I am so glad we are working together to provide timely, accurate information and help people fight the coronavirus in Pakistan.”
PM Imran Khan responded saying :
“I am glad we are working for a common cause to improve lives for millions. Hope you are doing well, thank you Sheryl for your support and the remarkable work your team is doing.”
Situation to get worse before it gets better: Fauci
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Many arrested in Sindh as curfew-like conditions prevail
Many arrests were made in Sindh from 12pm and 3pm on Friday for lockdown violations. While cities presented a deserted look, the police and security forces held violators amid a tightened shutdown that brought life to a near standstill for three hours.
Sindh announced yesterday that it will implement a curfew-like lockdown in the province on Fridays between 12pm and 3pm in an extension of its efforts to curb the Covis-19 spread. All public movement on the said day and hours is prohibited save some rare exceptions.
The virus has affected 783 in Sindh so far and has killed 35 in the country. Sindh is the second most affected province after Punjab which has reported 928 confirmed coronavirus cases so far.
ANALYSIS: Will Pakistan’s Strategy to Fight the Covid-19 Pandemic Work?
For many, it’s still unclear what Pakistan’s strategy is to contain the spread of the virus. Is it working, what modeling have we used to devise the strategy, if it’s implemented anywhere else or not and mainly: do we have a contingency plan or not?
We also need to know if the strategy is data-driven. What scientific model was used to make decisions and why aren’t all provinces seemingly not aligned in terms of strategy and the plan to contain the virus?
These are questions that everyone is asking, particularly the opposition parties and those who are unhappy with the results of the current plan of action.
We have tried to draw some answers here.
GUIDE: Here’s how you can apply for Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program
The govt launched an SMS service 8171 to enable the deserving families to benefit from Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program. Here’s how you can avail it.
- Type your CNIC number and send it to 8171
- The Ehsaas team will verify your credentials from their database
- You’ll be told if you’re eligible for the cash grant
Read the full guide here.
Philippines’ shoot-to-kill order ‘deeply alarming’: Amnesty International
Philippines President Duterte on Thursday ordered police and military officials in the country to shoot “troublemakers” protesting during the country’s coronavirus quarantine.
Amnesty International has reacted with alarm to the move. Butch Olano, Amnesty International’s Philippines Director, said:
“It is deeply alarming that President Duterte has extended a policy of shoot to kill, a devastating hallmark of his presidency, to law enforcement agencies in the community quarantine.
“Deadly, unchecked force should never be referred to as a method to respond to an emergency such as the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Punjab has performed over 17,000 tests so far
Punjab health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid has shared the total number of tests performed in Punjab so far and their breakup.
#COVID19 tests in Punjab so far = 17,069
Breakup:#GovtSector:
Health Department's Lab = 4,039
Nishtar Hospital Multan = 500
SKMCH = 2,238 (Free Tests for GoP)
NIH Lab Islamabad = 2,980#PrivateSector = 7,312#PunjabCoronavirusUpdate— Dr. Yasmin Rashid (@Dr_YasminRashid) April 3, 2020
Heathrow, one of the world’s busiest airports, is virtually deserted
London's Heathrow Airport, normally the busiest in Europe, was virtually empty as flights remained grounded pic.twitter.com/w1NvFVlbI3
— Reuters (@Reuters) April 3, 2020
NEW CASES: Islamabad 6, GB 3
Islamabad has reported 6 new coronavirus cases with its tally reaching 68.
Gilgit Baltistan also reported an additional 3 cases which brings its total to 190.
President Alvi urges nation to pray at home
“Doctors across the world are asking people to practice social distancing so the spread of coronavirus could be curtailed,” President Alvi said in a tweet.
“The government advises people to offer zuhr prayers instead of jumma (Friday),” he added. “May God forgive us, but I believe that this is the true spirit of my religion.”
میری دعا ہے کہ آپ سب صحت مند اور سلامت رہیں۔ دنیا کے تمام ڈاکٹر متفقہ طور پر کورونا وائرس پھیلانے کی حوصلہ شکنی کے لئے سماجی دوری کی حمایت کر رہے ہیں۔ حکومت کا مشورہ ہے کہ ہم جمعہ کے بجائے ظہر کی نماز پڑھیں۔ اللہ ہمیں معاف کرے، لیکن مجھے یقین ہے کہ یہی میرے دین کی اصل روح ہے۔ https://t.co/bfrxpNirFE
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) April 3, 2020
True Coronavirus Infections Could Be as High as 10 Million Cases: Australia
As many as 10 million people globally may have been infected by the new coronavirus, Australia’s chief medical officer said on Friday, with the under-reporting due to a lack of testing in some countries for the highly contagious respiratory disease.
A Reuters tally of official data on Friday pegged the number of COVID-19 cases caused by the virus at 1 million, but Australia’s chief medical officer said the true size of the global outbreak may be up to 10 times higher.
Source: Reuters
US reports world’s highest single-day toll
According to the tally from John Hopkins University, as many as 1,100 coronavirus patients died in the US within the space of 24 hours.
This is the highest number of deaths any country has recorded in a single day. The country is now the epicenter of the disease with over 245,000 cases and 6,000 fatalities.
GB reports 3rd coronavirus death
Gilgit Baltistan has reported another coronavirus death taking its toll to 3 so far.
The latest victim was an elderly patient from Astore district, informed GB Information Minister Shams Mir.
Reminder: All public movement to remain suspended today between 12pm and 3pm
On Friday (today), all public movement and social, commercial activity will come to a halt in Sindh from 12pm to 3pm.
The Sindh govt. on Thursday issued directives that movement of all kinds (with some selective exceptions) will be made illegal in Sindh on all Fridays between 12pm and 3pm.
The move comes as an extension of the province’s efforts to curb the spread of novel coronavirus that is tightening its grip on the country.
22 new cases reported in Sindh
Taking the provincial tally of confirmed cases to 783, Sindh has reported another 22 coronavirus cases.
Of the new cases, 2 were detected in Tableeghi Jamaat members in Ghotki, 14 in Hyderabad, while 6 were reported in Karachi.
All of the new cases are of local transmission.
Pakistan’s first COVID-19 patient donates plasma for new therapy
Yahya Jaffery, the first coronavirus patient to recover from the contagious disease in Pakistan, has donated plasma for the possible treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients.
Addressing a press conference at Children’s Hospital Karachi on Thursday with Jaffery and his parents, hospital CEO and haematologist Dr Saqib Ansari requested the government to permit the use of plasma for coronavirus treatment, claiming that it would help save lives of those affected by the disease.
Source: Express Tribune
Punjab reports 6 new cases
With the addition of six new cases, the Punjab coronavirus tally has reached 920.
According to a spokesperson for the Punjab health department, the new cases were reported in Vehari.
For our coronavirus coverage from April 2, click here.
May Allah protect all the mankind from this pandemic. May Allah shower his mercy upon all of us.