A National Action Plan report on Covid-19, presented to the Supreme Court on Saturday, says that coronavirus death toll in Pakistan could rise to 5,000 to 7,000 by April 25.
The report also projects the number of positive coronavirus cases in Pakistan to rise to 50,000 by April 25. Out of these, about 7,000 could be severely ill while 2,500 could develop mild symptoms, says the report.
So far, the virus has affected over 3,000 people in Pakistan while the death toll crossed 45. Recoveries are also being reported meanwhile with the tally of nationwide recoveries crossing 170.
On Friday, Prime Minister Imran Khan, while briefing the media, said the government cannot lock up 220 million people through a harsh curfew to control the spread of Covid-19 . The country has to find a balance between coronavirus and hunger, he said.
Here are the latest updates:
Punjab has reported its biggest single-day jump in coronavirus cases where its tally rose by 184 to 1,380.
Out of the total affected, 309 are pilgrims, 443 people associated with Raiwind Ijtima, 28 prisoners, and 600 other citizens.
Coronavirus patients who have mild symptoms and the facility are being isolated at their homes, said CM Sindh Murad Ali Shah.
Explaining the provincial government’s strategy in a video message, he said that people who don’t have the facility to isolate at home and might infect other people would be isolated in the government-run centres.
He highlighted that the people who have recovered were not given any medicine and they simply recovered in self-isolation.
Iran’s president said on Sunday “low-risk” economic activities would resume from April 11 in the Middle Eastern country worst-affected by the new coronavirus.
“Under the supervision of the health ministry, all those low-risk economic activities will resume from Saturday,” President Hassan Rouhani said in a televised meeting.
“Two thirds of all Iranian government employees will work out of office from Saturday … the decision does not contradict stay at home advice by the health authorities.”
It is a mistake to believe that the virus only severely impacts older people and those with underlying conditions, said Dr. Mike Ryan, executive director of WHO’s emergencies program as officials caution that more young people are becoming critically ill and dying due to COVID-19.
Ryan said that in Italy, one of the largest outbreaks in the world, 10% to 15% of all people in intensive care are under 50.
“We are seeing more and more younger individuals who are experiencing severe disease,” Dr. Maria Van Kerkhove, head of the WHO’s emerging diseases and zoonosis unit, said at a news briefing from the organization’s Geneva headquarters. “We’ve seen some data from a number of countries across Europe where people of younger age have died. Some of those individuals have had underlying conditions, but some have not.”
Source: CNBC
An anti-parasitic drug available throughout the world has been found to kill COVID-19 in the lab within 48 hours.
A Monash University-led study has shown a single dose of the drug Ivermectin could stop the SARS-CoV-2 virus growing in cell culture.
“We found that even a single dose could essentially remove all viral RNA (effectively removed all genetic material of the virus) by 48 hours and that even at 24 hours there was a really significant reduction in it,” Monash Biomedicine Discovery Institute’s Dr Kylie Wagstaff said on Friday.
While it’s not known how Ivermectin works on the virus, the drug likely stops the virus dampening the host cells’ ability to clear it.
Source: 7news
Welcome to the world, Corona and Covid – these are the names of newborn twins in India’s Raipur city.
The boy and girl were born amid a three-week lockdown in India. Their parents say they gave them the names as a reminder of obstacles overcome during trying times that have disrupted life across the world.
In an interview with local media, the mother said it was a “difficult” delivery. “We faced many challenges and me and my husband wanted to make the day memorable,” she said, adding that she went into labour on 26 March.
“The virus is dangerous but its outbreak has made people focus on hygiene and inculcate other good habits. So we thought about these names,” she explained.
Hospital staff started calling the twins as Corona and Covid soon after they were born – which helped the parents make their decision.
Source: BBC
Three more coronavirus deaths were confirmed by the KP Directorate General Health Services. All of these happened in Peshawar.
Punjab also reported a new Covid-19 death taking its toll to 12. The deceased was an 80-year-old patient from Lahore.
With 10 new coronavirus cases, Balochistan tally has reached 185. The Balochistan health department also said that one person has died of the virus in the province so far while 17 have recovered.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa saw a jump in coronavirus cases by 29 new cases to 372. One new case was reported in AJK taking its tally to 12.
In Punjab, another 46 people tested positive for the virus taking its total to 1,133. GB reported 13 new cases with which its tally climbed to 206.
Islamabad Capital Territory’s total also rose to 78 with 3 new cases.
Tableeghi Jamaat centers across Sindh have been turned into quarantines by the Sindh Police and district administration.
An estimated 4,107people in 168 Tableeghi Jamaat marakiz have been isolated according to the police.
18 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Punjab, its Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has confirmed.
The new numbers take the province’s tally to 1,087. Of all Punjab’s cities, Lahore has reported most cases at 210 so far.
A National Action Plan against Covid-19 report, submitted to the Supreme Court on Saturday, says that coronavirus death toll in Pakistan could rise to 5,000 to 7,000 by April 25.
The report also projects the number of positive coronavirus cases in Pakistan to rise to 50,000 by April 25. Out of these, about 7,000 could become severely ill while 2,500 could develop mild symptoms.
So far, the virus has affected over 2,700 people in Pakistan while the death toll crossed 40. Recoveries are also being reported meanwhile with the tally of nationwide recoveries reaching 130.
A PAF C-130 aircraft carrying zaaireen from Dalbandin, landed in Skardu on Saturday. The move was a part of PAF’s relief operations that it’s undertaking in the fight against COVID-19.
The zaaireen were kept in the makeshift arrangements at the bordering town between Pakistan and Iran. They acknowledged the concerted efforts of the government for giving the best possible facilities at such a far off place. They also thanked PAF for arranging this special relief sortie for the people of Gilgit Baltistan.
PAF transport fleet is playing an instrumental role in carrying out relief efforts in the wake of COVID-19 pandemic and has also airlifted tons of relief goods and medical equipment from the neighboring country, China.
Certain populations, such as those with disability, may be impacted more significantly by Covid-19. This impact can be mitigated if simple actions and protective measures are taken by key stakeholders.
While the spike in new coronavirus cases continues in Pakistan, the country is also reporting daily recoveries.
As per the latest tally, the number of people who have recovered from Covid-19 has reached at least 130 so far.
Islamabad has registered 7 new coronavirus cases with its total number of affected people reaching 75.
GB also reported a spike with 3 new cases taking its tally to 193.
68% of IT companies in Pakistan are uncertain about retaining their current workforce due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and that number could jump to 89% over the next six months, according to an alarming report published by Pakistan Software Houses Association for IT and ITeS (P@SHA).
The findings come as part of a report (linked below) published by P@SHA in which it polled over 200 companies with a collective workforce of over 34,000 people.
Read the full story here.
A prestigious scientific panel told the White House Wednesday night that research shows coronavirus can be spread not just by sneezes or coughs, but also just by talking, or possibly even just breathing.
“While the current [coronavirus] specific research is limited, the results of available studies are consistent with aerosolization of virus from normal breathing,” according to the letter, written by Dr. Harvey Fineberg, chairman of a committee with the National Academy of Sciences.
Dr. Anthony Fauci, a key member of the White House’s coronavirus task force, told CNN Tuesday that the idea of recommending broad use of masks in the US to prevent the spread of coronavirus is under “very active discussion” by the group.
Source: CNN
The Islamabad High Court has given a nod to turning three- and four-star hotels into ‘quarantine centres’ where the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has planned to keep coronavirus patients.
Last month the NDMA had proposed to the government that the hotels in all major cities across Pakistan be converted into quarantine centres for suspected and confirmed coronavirus cases. Later with the federal government consent, the NDMA also issued directives to the management of different hotels on March 16 and March 28, to vacate the premises for the purpose.
The NDMA order to vacate the hotels was however challenged by three-star Hotel Margalla, situated in Islamabad.
Source: Dawn
At least 47 new coronavirus cases were reported in Sindh taking its total to 830.
All of the new cases were of local transmission, 38 of which were reported from Karachi alone.
PTA has clarified that the message currently circulating in groups regarding a ban on posting information on coronavirus is fake.
For our coronavirus coverage from April 3, click here.