Modi wishes PM Imran speedy recovery from Covid-19

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday wished his Pakistani counterpart a speedy recovery from Covid-19.

"Best wishes to Prime Minister Imran Khan for a speedy recovery from Covid-19," Modi wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan had confirmed earlier in the day that PM Imran had tested positive for Covid-19.

The news came two days after the prime minister was vaccinated against the contagion. However, he had received his first dose and not the second jab for the vaccine. Dr Sultan added that the premier is now isolating at home.

Read more: Pakistan study shows Covid-19 vaccines have low efficacy against UK variant

The Ministry of National Health Services also clarified that the premier was "not fully vaccinated" when he contracted the virus. The ministry added that only the first dose was administered, which is "too soon for any vaccine to become effective".

Other world leaders also wished the premier a speedy recovery. British High Commissioner to Pakistan Christian Turner prayed for PM Imran on his Twitter account.

The Twitter handle of the US Embassy in Islamabad said that their thoughts were with PM Imran and his family.

Official Twitter account of the French Embassy in Pakistan and Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong also wished the premier a speedy recovery.

Pakistan on Saturday recorded at least 3,876 confirmed cases of Covid-19 – the highest in eight months as the third wave of the pandemic sweeps across the country. The country also recorded at least 42 fatalities from the virus in the last 24 hours.

The regions of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Punjab have in recent days reported a sharp rise in the number of Covid-19 cases. The UK strain of the virus – reportedly more lethal as well – is sweeping across these areas as the country grapples with the third wave of the pandemic.