JUNE 7: Pakistan becomes 14th country to cross 100k Covid-19 cases; death toll tops 2,000
Nationwide tally of coronavirus patients stands at 101,487 with 2,032 deaths
A government official checks CNICs of Ehsaas Cash Programme recipients. PHOTO: AFP/FILE
ISLAMABAD / KARACHI / PESHAWAR / LAHORE / QUETTA / MUZAFFARABAD:
The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months. It’s not the virulence or fatality, but the infectivity of the new virus – also known as SARS-CoV-2 – that has set off a global frenzy.
The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused by this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 6.6 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world – and over 394,000 of them have died and counting.
Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran – one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.
Nearly one and a half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases.
The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 101,487 with 37,090 cases in Punjab, 38,108 in Sindh, 13,487 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 6,516 in Balochistan, 932 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 4,979 in Islamabad and 375 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The virus has claimed at least 2,032 lives while around 33,976 coronavirus patients have recovered.
The situation remains fluid and we’re updating stats as soon as new figures are officially released.
Follow The Express Tribune’s live coverage of the pandemic here.
1:40am: People urged to 'stop stigmatising' overseas Pakistanis returning home
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf has urged people to stop stigmatising stranded overseas Pakistanis who are returning to their country amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying: “Overwhelming majority returning are poor labours”.
His statement comes amid the growing fears that Pakistanis returning home can be a coronavirus carriers and may spread the highly contagious disease in the country.
In a series of tweets from his official handle on Sunday, the PM’s aide shared facts about the government’s policy about Pakistanis returning to the country.
Full story here
12:45am: Punjab further relaxes business restrictions despite rise in Covid-19 cases
The Punjab government has granted further exemptions to businesses operating in limited capacity to curtail the spread of coronavirus despite witnessing a sharp rise in the new cases following Eidul Fitr.
According to a notification issued by the primary and secondary healthcare department on Sunday night, bakeries and milk shops are now allowed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week “subject to adoption of SOPs/guidelines”.
Chicken and meat shops are also allowed to operate from 9am to 7pm throughout the week.
10:25pm: G-B reports five more cases to bring Covid-19 tally to 932
The Gilgit-Baltistan health officials have confirmed five more cases to raise the region’s tally of coronavirus patients to 932.
Active cases stand at 341.
10:20pm: 295 fresh Covid-19 cases raise Balochistan tally to 6,516
Another 295 people have contracted coronavirus in the past 24 hours to bring the provincial tally to 6,516. However, no casualties were reported on Sunday, according to the daily situational report.
The virus has claimed 54 lives while 2,313 patients have recovered from the mysterious disease in the province so far.
9:30pm: Rubina Ashraf critical after testing positive for Covid-19
Veteran TV actor Rubina Ashraf was tested positive last week for Covid-19. The 60-year-old actor is now in a critical condition, as she battles coronavirus. The news of the veteran star testing positive was reported by Express News. She had previously isolated herself.
However, now, the news of Rubina being in a critical condition was making rounds. A source close to the family of the legend confirmed to The Express Tribune that she is in a critical condition and is admitted in a private hospital.
Read more here
8:40pm: ‘No facemask, no entry’ policy at all K-P hospitals
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has linked entrance to all hospitals across the province to wearing facemasks in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
In a notification issued on Sunday night, the provincial government directed the administration to display banners inscribed with a clear warning “No Facemask, No entry” at the entrance of hospitals.
7:40pm: NCOC launches ‘Pak Neghayban’ mobile app for Covid-19 patients
Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Sunday said the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) with the support of National Information Technology Board (NITB) has launched “Pak Neghayban” mobile application.
In a tweet, Umar, who also chairs NCOC, said an updated version of Covid-19 app would allow users to see availability of beds ventilators, capacity and usage in real-time at various health centers across Pakistan.
He also shared the link from where the app could be downloaded.
More details here
6:30pm: PPP’s Sharjeel Memon tests positive for coronavirus
Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) member of Sindh Assembly Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said that he has gone into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.
Memon, who has served as provincial minister in the past, is the Sindh government’s focal person for coronavirus in Hyderabad.
He attended the provincial assembly's sessions up until two days ago.
Results of Memon’s first test, conducted on May 28, came negative before the Sindh Assembly session. Symptoms started to appear during the session, prompting the PPP leader to go through the testing once again.
MQM lawmaker Shahana Ashar also fell prey to coronavirus during the assembly session.
6:00pm: K-P reports 14 more deaths, 486 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department, in its daily situational report, has confirmed 14 more fatalities due to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours to bring the provincial death toll to 575.
Seven deaths were reported from Peshawar, two from Bajaur, and one each in Nowshera, Mardan, Dir Lower, Malakand and Kohat.
486 new cases – 2 from Int'l flights – were also reported, taking the total to 13,487.
92 more patients recovered, taking tally to 3,542. 78,947 total tests have been conducted in the province so far.
4:20pm: 'Bodies now being handed over to families in K-P'
Advisor to chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on information Ajmal Wazir claimed the province was reporting cases in accordance with WHO's guidelines.
He added that bodies of patients were also now being handed over to families. "No cases are being hidden from the public in K-P," the advisor stated.
Wazir also hit out at Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, asking him to stop "worrying about K-P, and focus on Sindh".
4:00pm: SC judge tests positive for Covid-19
A judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ameen-ud-din Khan, tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The judge has gone into self-isolation. Justice Ameen-ud-din Khan is a judge of SC bench II.
Two more employees of the SC, namely Zafar Iqbal and Dr Yasir Khan, have also tested positive for the virus.
3:45pm: Your lives are valuable please take care: CM Sindh
In the past 24 hours, 8,119 tests were conducted and 1,744 new cases emerged, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Another 16 persons have succumbed to the virus, he added.
According to the CM, 511 more patients have recovered from the virus and Sindh's recovery rate now stands at 49.3 per cent.
"Your lives are valuable please take care [of them],"said Shah while asking citizens to adhere to SOPs.
3.15pm: Sindh spokesperson reports 1,744 new cases
2:00pm: K-P govt issues SOPs for provincial assembly budget session
The K-P government has issued a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the budget session of the provincial assembly starting June 19.
In order to enter the assembly, members will have to walk through a sanitisation gate and must wear face masks.
In addition, only drivers will be allowed to enter the premises. No gunmen allowed.
All members of the assembly will be tested for Covid-19 and would only be allowed to attend the session if the results are negative.
The session will begin on June 19 and continue till June 28. June 21 and 22 will remain off.
Implementation of SOPs will be mandatory for every member.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, responding to a tweet on microblogging website Twitter, said the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has not approved testing kits from NUST and suggested improvements be made.
The minister said quality must not be compromised, adding that delay is better than faulty equipment.
The novel coronavirus emerged in the central China city of Wuhan towards the end of last year and proliferated to almost the whole world within a couple of months. It’s not the virulence or fatality, but the infectivity of the new virus – also known as SARS-CoV-2 – that has set off a global frenzy.
The Covid-19 respiratory illness caused by this mysterious contagion has so far infected more than 6.6 million people in 202 countries and territories of the world – and over 394,000 of them have died and counting.
Pakistan, despite its close proximity with China, remained coronavirus-free until February 26 when a young man from Karachi tested positive after returning from Iran – one of the worst-hit countries. After a brief hiatus following the first case, Covid-19 cases spiked as more pilgrims returning from Iran tested positive for the virus.
Nearly one and a half months after imposing the lockdown across the country, Prime Minister Imran Khan announced to ease the lockdown in phases.
The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 101,487 with 37,090 cases in Punjab, 38,108 in Sindh, 13,487 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 6,516 in Balochistan, 932 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 4,979 in Islamabad and 375 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The virus has claimed at least 2,032 lives while around 33,976 coronavirus patients have recovered.
The situation remains fluid and we’re updating stats as soon as new figures are officially released.
Follow The Express Tribune’s live coverage of the pandemic here.
1:40am: People urged to 'stop stigmatising' overseas Pakistanis returning home
Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf has urged people to stop stigmatising stranded overseas Pakistanis who are returning to their country amid the Covid-19 pandemic, saying: “Overwhelming majority returning are poor labours”.
His statement comes amid the growing fears that Pakistanis returning home can be a coronavirus carriers and may spread the highly contagious disease in the country.
In a series of tweets from his official handle on Sunday, the PM’s aide shared facts about the government’s policy about Pakistanis returning to the country.
Full story here
12:45am: Punjab further relaxes business restrictions despite rise in Covid-19 cases
The Punjab government has granted further exemptions to businesses operating in limited capacity to curtail the spread of coronavirus despite witnessing a sharp rise in the new cases following Eidul Fitr.
According to a notification issued by the primary and secondary healthcare department on Sunday night, bakeries and milk shops are now allowed to operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week “subject to adoption of SOPs/guidelines”.
Chicken and meat shops are also allowed to operate from 9am to 7pm throughout the week.
10:25pm: G-B reports five more cases to bring Covid-19 tally to 932
The Gilgit-Baltistan health officials have confirmed five more cases to raise the region’s tally of coronavirus patients to 932.
Active cases stand at 341.
10:20pm: 295 fresh Covid-19 cases raise Balochistan tally to 6,516
Another 295 people have contracted coronavirus in the past 24 hours to bring the provincial tally to 6,516. However, no casualties were reported on Sunday, according to the daily situational report.
The virus has claimed 54 lives while 2,313 patients have recovered from the mysterious disease in the province so far.
9:30pm: Rubina Ashraf critical after testing positive for Covid-19
Veteran TV actor Rubina Ashraf was tested positive last week for Covid-19. The 60-year-old actor is now in a critical condition, as she battles coronavirus. The news of the veteran star testing positive was reported by Express News. She had previously isolated herself.
However, now, the news of Rubina being in a critical condition was making rounds. A source close to the family of the legend confirmed to The Express Tribune that she is in a critical condition and is admitted in a private hospital.
Read more here
8:40pm: ‘No facemask, no entry’ policy at all K-P hospitals
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) government has linked entrance to all hospitals across the province to wearing facemasks in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
In a notification issued on Sunday night, the provincial government directed the administration to display banners inscribed with a clear warning “No Facemask, No entry” at the entrance of hospitals.
7:40pm: NCOC launches ‘Pak Neghayban’ mobile app for Covid-19 patients
Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Sunday said the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) with the support of National Information Technology Board (NITB) has launched “Pak Neghayban” mobile application.
In a tweet, Umar, who also chairs NCOC, said an updated version of Covid-19 app would allow users to see availability of beds ventilators, capacity and usage in real-time at various health centers across Pakistan.
He also shared the link from where the app could be downloaded.
More details here
6:30pm: PPP’s Sharjeel Memon tests positive for coronavirus
Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) member of Sindh Assembly Sharjeel Inam Memon on Sunday said that he has gone into self-isolation after testing positive for Covid-19.
Memon, who has served as provincial minister in the past, is the Sindh government’s focal person for coronavirus in Hyderabad.
He attended the provincial assembly's sessions up until two days ago.
Results of Memon’s first test, conducted on May 28, came negative before the Sindh Assembly session. Symptoms started to appear during the session, prompting the PPP leader to go through the testing once again.
MQM lawmaker Shahana Ashar also fell prey to coronavirus during the assembly session.
6:00pm: K-P reports 14 more deaths, 486 new coronavirus cases in 24 hours
The Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) health department, in its daily situational report, has confirmed 14 more fatalities due to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours to bring the provincial death toll to 575.
Seven deaths were reported from Peshawar, two from Bajaur, and one each in Nowshera, Mardan, Dir Lower, Malakand and Kohat.
486 new cases – 2 from Int'l flights – were also reported, taking the total to 13,487.
92 more patients recovered, taking tally to 3,542. 78,947 total tests have been conducted in the province so far.
4:20pm: 'Bodies now being handed over to families in K-P'
Advisor to chief minister of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa on information Ajmal Wazir claimed the province was reporting cases in accordance with WHO's guidelines.
He added that bodies of patients were also now being handed over to families. "No cases are being hidden from the public in K-P," the advisor stated.
Wazir also hit out at Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, asking him to stop "worrying about K-P, and focus on Sindh".
4:00pm: SC judge tests positive for Covid-19
A judge of the Supreme Court, Justice Ameen-ud-din Khan, tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. The judge has gone into self-isolation. Justice Ameen-ud-din Khan is a judge of SC bench II.
Two more employees of the SC, namely Zafar Iqbal and Dr Yasir Khan, have also tested positive for the virus.
3:45pm: Your lives are valuable please take care: CM Sindh
In the past 24 hours, 8,119 tests were conducted and 1,744 new cases emerged, said Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
Another 16 persons have succumbed to the virus, he added.
According to the CM, 511 more patients have recovered from the virus and Sindh's recovery rate now stands at 49.3 per cent.
"Your lives are valuable please take care [of them],"said Shah while asking citizens to adhere to SOPs.
3.15pm: Sindh spokesperson reports 1,744 new cases
2:00pm: K-P govt issues SOPs for provincial assembly budget session
The K-P government has issued a list of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the budget session of the provincial assembly starting June 19.
In order to enter the assembly, members will have to walk through a sanitisation gate and must wear face masks.
In addition, only drivers will be allowed to enter the premises. No gunmen allowed.
All members of the assembly will be tested for Covid-19 and would only be allowed to attend the session if the results are negative.
The session will begin on June 19 and continue till June 28. June 21 and 22 will remain off.
Implementation of SOPs will be mandatory for every member.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, responding to a tweet on microblogging website Twitter, said the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has not approved testing kits from NUST and suggested improvements be made.
The minister said quality must not be compromised, adding that delay is better than faulty equipment.
DRAP has not approved kits uptill now and improvements suggested , I am of the firm view that quality must not be compromised at any cost delay is better than faulty equipment
Punjab health authorities reported 1,782 new cases, raising the provincial tally to 37,090.
The province reported 24 new deaths, taking the country's death toll to 683.
The National Command and Operation Centre has allocated 250 additional ventilators over the last one week, through the help of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA).
Out of 250 ventilators, 72 ventilators were allotted to Punjab, 52 each to Sindh and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P), 20 to Balochistan, 34 to Islamabad and 10 each to Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B).
At least 150 Pakistani crew members aboard the Pakistan National Shipping Corporation's (PNSC) cargo ships have been stranded on ships in different parts of the world amid the pandemic.
Many countries have called their staff back as the number of Covid-19 cases continues to increase worldwide. However, staff members of the Pakistan national flag carrier have not been notified.
Contracts of many crew members have expired and payments have not been made for months.
The families of the naval personnel have appealed to the Federal Ministry of Coastal Affairs to ensure the repatriation of the stranded navy personnel as soon as possible.
Five Covid-19 cases reportedly emerged in the Foreign Office, among them were two officers and three staff members.
Confirming the cases, an FO spokesperson stated that the affected officials were immediately quarantined.
The spokesperson said standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government have been implemented.
At least 7,535 violations of standard operating procedures (SOPs) have been reported to the National Command and Operation Centre from across Pakistan in the past 24 hours.
In Punjab, special teams were allocated for checking various markets, bazaars, transport and industrial areas. 965 shops, two industries, 715 vehicles were closed, fined or cautioned for violating 4,641 SOPs.
Moreover, 81 shops in Sindh have been closed, fined or cautioned due to 826 SOP violations.
In Balochistan, 705 violations have been observed, resulting in 629 shops, three industries and 15 vehicles being temporarily closed, fined or cautioned.
Furthermore, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa reported 398 SOP violations, in which 186 shops and 106 vehicles were cautioned, fined or sealed.
Gilgit-Baltistan recorded 267 violations of government guidelines, resulting in 96 shops and 56 vehicles being fined or sealed.
44 SOP violations in the federal capital resulted in 29 shops, two industries and 13 vehicles being fined or sealed.
Lastly, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) reported 972 SOP violations, resulting in 168 shops and 202 vehicles being fined or sealed.
11:20am: CCPO Lahore orders divisional officers to ensure lockdown
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Zulfiqar Hameed has directed all divisional officers to ensure lockdown in the province.
All markets and shops will remain closed today.
A day earlier, 53 cases were registered for violating the lockdown and standard operating procedures (SOPs) issued by the government.
Divisional officers inspected more than 80 markets across the city and 383 shops were sealed for violating government orders. 1,031 shopkeepers were issued warnings.
Challan tickets were issued to at least 717 persons for driving without a face mask.
CCPO Lahore said government orders are being strictly implemented and violators of the guidelines will be dealt with immediately.
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar met with provincial Adviser on Economic Affairs and Planning Dr Salman Shah and discussed measures to strengthen the economy of the province amid the pandemic.
The meeting discussed the economy in light of the contagion and development, business and investment promotion strategies that have been developed to improve the economic conditions.
The chief minister said a uniform development policy is the provincial government's priority.
To facilitate working of emergency responders across Pakistan, a special video conference was held from the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) with the heads of emergency services of all the provinces, including Edhi Foundation and Chippa Ambulance etc.
The conference discussed existing mechanism for the provision of emergency services to the public. They apprised the emergency responders about Resource Management System (RSM) which allows the provinces to review the facilities available within the hospitals in their respective areas.
The meeting briefed the responders about the Pak Nighban app that provides information about the availability of ventilators in hospitals. 1,110 hospitals across the country have been linked with this app.
A special Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight will depart from Islamabad for O'Hare International Airport Chicago on June 13 carrying stranded US citizens.
The national flag carrier will depart from the Chicago on June 14, carrying stranded Pakistani nationals in the United States.
This will be the sixth special flight from the US.
The government portal reported 2,424 new cases, taking the nationwide tally to 98,943.
The virus claimed 67 lives in the past 24 hours and the country's death toll has reached 2,002, while at least 33,465 patients have recovered.
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has ordered concerned authorities to establish a corona unit in Sindh Services Hospital.
The chief minister urged the masses to follow precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus.