Shafqat Mahmood tests positive for Covid-19

Education minister says feeling fine with mild symptoms; hopes to recover soon

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Minister for Education and Training Shafqat Mahmood announced on Tuesday that he had tested positive for Covid-19.

In a tweet, the education minister stated that he was feeling mild symptoms at the moment, and that he hoped to recover soon.

I have tested positive for coronavirus. I feel fine with mild symptoms. InshAllah will get well soon.

— Shafqat Mahmood (@Shafqat_Mahmood) May 25, 2021

Mahmood is among several federal and provincial ministers, and other government officials, to have tested positive for coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.

Earlier this year, President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Imran Khan had also tested positive for the deadly virus.

Read Board exams to begin after June 20

Pakistan reported 2,253 fresh cases on Monday, taking the tally for total confirmed cases to 905,852. Around 92 more patients also succumbed to the virus in 24 hours. The country's death toll has now reached 20,400.

As many as 2,783 people also recovered from the infection in a day. A total of 823,157 people have recovered from the virus so far.

A day ago, educational and tourist activities were restored in several parts of the country following the National Command and Operation Centre's (NCOC) fresh directives to ease restrictions imposed in view of the Covid situation.

In light of the NCOC's directives, educational and tourism-related activities were restored in 16 districts of Punjab, 21 of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and all districts of Balochistan, except Quetta, with strict adherence to SOPs.

However, restrictions continue to be imposed in Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta and Sindh.

On May 19, after reviewing the Covid situation in the country, the NCOC announced reopening outdoor restaurants, educational institutions and other sectors in districts where the positivity ratio was less than five per cent.