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Coronavirus in Pakistan

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">14 of Karachi’s 18 new coronavirus cases reported today are local transmissions <br><br>4 are people who attended the recent tablighi Ijtima in Raiwind</p>— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/1241734987281465344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
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Avoid gatherings and pray at home on Shab-i-Mairaj, says Noorul Haq Qadri
Minister for Religious Affairs Pir Noorul Haq Qadri has urged people to "avoid big gatherings and pray at home" on Shab-i-Mairaj.

He also asked the nation to pray for "Pakistan, Muslim ummah and all of humanity, especially for protection against coronavirus", in his message on Shab-i-Mairaj.
 
last_knight said:
Stupids.

Earlier today, Sukkur quarantine was broken off and Zaireens tried to escape. Not sure if all were traced back or not.
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This is why I think for now we need to act strategically and the ressources should be concentrated for high risk areas. The quarantine needs to put under strict control.

A countrywide lockdown is stupid not because it will harm the poor rather for now it is ineffective and a waste of resources.

Pakistan is not Italy or Europe. We have been dealt a far easier hand than those countries if only we'd think for a moment.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First time in the history of mankind we can save humanity by laying in front of a TV and practically do nothing! Still we are struggling.....<br><br>Bhai wah!<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdownpakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdownpakistan</a> <br> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaFreePakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaFreePakistan</a></p>— Arslan Naseer - CBA (@ArslanNaseerCBA) <a href="https://twitter.com/ArslanNaseerCBA/status/1241671258913353729?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

:)))
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">14 of Karachi’s 18 new coronavirus cases reported today are local transmissions <br><br>4 are people who attended the recent tablighi Ijtima in Raiwind</p>— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/1241734987281465344?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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Good we caught them early. Ristrict the movement of their family. Put them under house arrest. If they have a elder family member test them ASAP. Sperate the older family members from the rest of the members who have been tested positive.

Lockdown = lazy ineffective approach which will waste unnecessary ressources while hoping for the problem to solve itself.

What we need is a strategic approach. ISI and other intelligence agencies need to help with their spying and surveillance capabilities.
 
Sirris said:
Good we caught them early. Ristrict the movement of their family. Put them under house arrest. If they have a elder family member test them ASAP. Sperate the older family members from the rest of the members who have been tested positive.

Lockdown = lazy ineffective approach which will waste unnecessary ressources while hoping for the problem to solve itself.

What we need is a strategic approach. ISI and other intelligence agencies need to help with their spying and surveillance capabilities.
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ISI ? really ? ISI dont do these kind of things ....
a simple police and surveillance will do the job .... but they are lazy ......
 
In Pakistan, the entire province of Sindh, which includes the country’s largest city Karachi, is going into lockdown from midnight for two weeks in an effort to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Residents will only be allowed out of their homes for essential purposes. All offices and shops other than pharmacies and those selling food items have been ordered to close.

Karachi, the commercial heart of Pakistan, is normally a heaving metropolis of around 15 million people.

There have been more than 600 cases in Pakistan so far. The bulk of the country's coronavirus cases consist of people travelling back from neighbouring Iran, though there have been an increasing number of instances of community transmission in the city of Karachi.

Sindh province is controlled by an opposition party. Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has opposed a nationwide lockdown saying it would cause too much harm to those on low incomes.

Meanwhile, neighbouring Afghanistan has reported the first coronavirus-related death - a 40-year-old patient in Balkh province.
 
Lonewarrior said:
ISI ? really ? ISI dont do these kind of things ....
a simple police and surveillance will do the job .... but they are lazy ......
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I said ISI because they have bigger resources and data base to profile and track down individuals. Some hardcore Shia loyalists in Pakistan go to Syria via Iran to fight for Assad regime. I am hoping ISI has some data on them and it's also likely that some of those fighters return to country disguised as pilgrims.
 
Shukar hai ahista ahista quam ko thori aqal ahrahi hai

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liberty market/hussein chowk area completely shut: except bakeries/ geocery stores/petrol pumps and restraunts open for take away only. <a href="https://t.co/JxpsssuaVt">pic.twitter.com/JxpsssuaVt</a></p>— Rai Saqib KharaL (@iRaiSaqib) <a href="https://twitter.com/iRaiSaqib/status/1241737100808110081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Syed1 said:
Shukar hai ahista ahista quam ko thori aqal ahrahi hai

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Liberty market/hussein chowk area completely shut: except bakeries/ geocery stores/petrol pumps and restraunts open for take away only. <a href="https://t.co/JxpsssuaVt">pic.twitter.com/JxpsssuaVt</a></p>— Rai Saqib KharaL (@iRaiSaqib) <a href="https://twitter.com/iRaiSaqib/status/1241737100808110081?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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It should happen all over Pakistan
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Rescue 1122, Local Govt and other departments are jointly working to disinfect the cities and towns, across Punjab.<br><br>All you have to do is to "stay indoor". Your Govt is aware of the situation and doing everything for your health & safety. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SocialDistancingIsTheNormNow?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SocialDistancingIsTheNormNow</a> <a href="https://t.co/Ld00iwQ78b">pic.twitter.com/Ld00iwQ78b</a></p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1241736951553830914?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
With nobody on the streets of Karachi it might be a good opportunity to pick up all that litter lol
 
shah_1 said:
It should happen all over Pakistan
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Arbab Road <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Peshawar?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Peshawar</a> cantt at 9pm. <a href="https://t.co/IFdjv0N3B1">pic.twitter.com/IFdjv0N3B1</a></p>— Manzoor Ali (@Manzoor) <a href="https://twitter.com/Manzoor/status/1241034013030207488?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 20, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
If I were to rank performance of each government:

1. KPK
2. Sindh
5. Punjab
7. Federal
89. Baluchistan

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Fortunately no new cases were confirmed in KP today. The tally of confirmed cases remains at 31. Lets work and pray to keep that tally as low as possible. We also have 616 Zaireen quarantined in 5 different districts. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/KPFightsCorona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#KPFightsCorona</a> <a href="https://t.co/GIWsp2vuoJ">https://t.co/GIWsp2vuoJ</a></p>— Zain Raza (@smzrz) <a href="https://twitter.com/smzrz/status/1241765215378833408?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Haven't been out of the house in 4 days. Now with the lock down in Sindh, preparing for a boring couple of weeks. However all of this is necessary. Better safe than sorry.
 
Pak Army in Karachi -

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Visuals from Karachi, where Army is preparing to hit the streets in order to enforce lockdown, as announced by the Sindh Govt <a href="https://t.co/DgkSdvHyZM">pic.twitter.com/DgkSdvHyZM</a></p>— Khalid khi (@khalid_pk) <a href="https://twitter.com/khalid_pk/status/1241735998041710592?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
A bit of good news in the doom and gloom, can any doc tell me if we can extract the antibodies from a recovered patient and give it to a currently infected person? [MENTION=140234]DRsohail[/MENTION] [MENTION=146141]Hermoine Green[/MENTION]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 4th patient of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> who is a resident of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karachi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karachi</a> has recovered and tested negative twice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaFreePakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaFreePakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanVsCorona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanVsCorona</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241784883481108480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Pakistan government should have not allowed the Pakistani back from Iran, as they did not Allow the students back from wuhan.
 
Pakistan has 650 confirmed cases with 3 deaths. The death to infected ratio is low. This is a good signal it means those who are infected are beind identified. Though it could also be misleading if the large number of confirmed cases is due to pilgrims who were stopped on the border and tested recently. There could be a large number of infected pilgrims who returned earlier and have gone under the radar.

People should be encouraged to come forward and get tested. Despite all the lockdown they shouldn't get the wrong signals and be aware that the virus is most likely not deadly for them.

Increasing the test capacity and having testing camps in all major areas should be a top priority.

Right now Pakistan has 3 cases / million person. We need to act with a plan in mind. Test, identify, isolate and test their relatives and friends.
 
Sirris said:
Pakistan has 650 confirmed cases with 3 deaths. The death to infected ratio is low. This is a good signal it means those who are infected are beind identified. Though it could also be misleading if the large number of confirmed cases is due to pilgrims who were stopped on the border and tested recently. There could be a large number of infected pilgrims who returned earlier and have gone under the radar.

People should be encouraged to come forward and get tested. Despite all the lockdown they shouldn't get the wrong signals and be aware that the virus is most likely not deadly for them.

Increasing the test capacity and having testing camps in all major areas should be a top priority.

Right now Pakistan has 3 cases / million person. We need to act with a plan in mind. Test, identify, isolate and test their relatives and friends.
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we have to wait for 2 weeks to see the actual numbers , cant say anything before that .......
 
Sirris said:
Pakistan has 650 confirmed cases with 3 deaths. The death to infected ratio is low. This is a good signal it means those who are infected are beind identified. Though it could also be misleading if the large number of confirmed cases is due to pilgrims who were stopped on the border and tested recently. There could be a large number of infected pilgrims who returned earlier and have gone under the radar.

People should be encouraged to come forward and get tested. Despite all the lockdown they shouldn't get the wrong signals and be aware that the virus is most likely not deadly for them.

Increasing the test capacity and having testing camps in all major areas should be a top priority.

Right now Pakistan has 3 cases / million person. We need to act with a plan in mind. Test, identify, isolate and test their relatives and friends.
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Yes, this death-infected ratio for Pakistan is an anomaly for me as well. Even India has more deaths despite having half the number of infected cases. Places like Philippines and Indonesia have half as many cases as Pakistan yet they have over two dozens deaths each (48 in Indonesia). I hope the number of fatalities remain low.

Also Pakistan's number is HUGE but again it should be noted the bulk of those infected are zaireen in quarantine.

This is an example of Sindh, they tested about 1300 zaireen while they were in quarantine and about 200 came out as positive. In Karachi there are 123 cases, and 77 of them are local transmission (meaning contacts of those that had traveled). The rest are travelers themselves. So if we stop all travel (done now) and systematically search and identify all travelers and their next of kin then we might God willing grab the bull by the horns.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> cases in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> as on 22.03.2020<br><br>Karachi:<br>-Positive: 123<br>-Cured: 3<br>-Deaths: 1<br>-77 cases out of 123 in Karachi are of Local Transmission<br><br>Pilgrims Sukkur:<br>-Positive: 210<br>-Negative: 1126<br><br>Total Cases in Sindh: 333<br>Patients Under Treatment: 329<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241717172973510658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Every infectious disease has an R-0 value which pertains to how many people one infected person can infect. The common flu has an R-0 of 1.3 meaning every person who has the flu will infect ON AVERAGE 1.3 more people. The average for the corona virus is R-2.5, meaning if 2 people have corona they will infect 5, bringing the total to 7 and the next day these 5 will infect approx 13 bringing the total to 20. So from 2 you went to 20 in just two steps that is a 10 fold increase.


New research is coming out that is saying that the R-0 value for corona is even higher if the temp is colder and drier, while R-0 is lower in hot humid places. HOWEVER, this does not mean that virus won't rapidly spread in hot and humid places since human to human transmission can still happen.
 
Exemption to Karachi restaurants for takeaway/delivery withdrawn

In a late-night development, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shal*wani through a notification cancelled exemption given for home delivery/takeaway of food items from restaurants.

"The kitchens of all restaurants/fast food chains shall remain closed," said the notification.

https://www.dawn.com/live-blog/
 
Abdullah719 said:
Exemption to Karachi restaurants for takeaway/delivery withdrawn

In a late-night development, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Ali Shal*wani through a notification cancelled exemption given for home delivery/takeaway of food items from restaurants.

"The kitchens of all restaurants/fast food chains shall remain closed," said the notification.

https://www.dawn.com/live-blog/
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Good decision... people were misusing this delivery/take away system to order large amounts of food putting the delivery people at risk.


Sad for uber eats/careem/bykea folks. Their rozi roti has been snatched in an instant. May Allah help them.
 
Saw on twitter , a Pakistani doctor in his 20s died today ? Is that confirmed . Scary if true .
 
Syed1 said:
Yes, this death-infected ratio for Pakistan is an anomaly for me as well. Even India has more deaths despite having half the number of infected cases. Places like Philippines and Indonesia have half as many cases as Pakistan yet they have over two dozens deaths each (48 in Indonesia). I hope the number of fatalities remain low.

Also Pakistan's number is HUGE but again it should be noted the bulk of those infected are zaireen in quarantine.

This is an example of Sindh, they tested about 1300 zaireen while they were in quarantine and about 200 came out as positive. In Karachi there are 123 cases, and 77 of them are local transmission (meaning contacts of those that had traveled). The rest are travelers themselves. So if we stop all travel (done now) and systematically search and identify all travelers and their next of kin then we might God willing grab the bull by the horns.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> cases in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> as on 22.03.2020<br><br>Karachi:<br>-Positive: 123<br>-Cured: 3<br>-Deaths: 1<br>-77 cases out of 123 in Karachi are of Local Transmission<br><br>Pilgrims Sukkur:<br>-Positive: 210<br>-Negative: 1126<br><br>Total Cases in Sindh: 333<br>Patients Under Treatment: 329<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241717172973510658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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No Pakistans ratio isn't an anomaly. It matches the same trend as those countries which started testing heavily. See here

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/

The ratio should be low since it can take up to 20 days for a person to die once they symptoms appear. Besides the mortality rate is though to be around 1%. Hence the higher the death-confirmed infected ratio the high number of people who are under the radar.
 
jusarrived said:
Saw on twitter , a Pakistani doctor in his 20s died today ? Is that confirmed . Scary if true .
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His death has been rumoured since a day or two, but the govt. denied it today. However, they said he is in critical condition. In Gilgit-Baltistan.
 
Inna lillahi wa inna illahi rajioon


Pakistani doctor in GB has sadly passed away.... he was deputed to do the initial screening of people arriving into GB. He unfortunately had some underlying health issues. May Allah grant him the highest rank in Jannat


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Govt of GB and CM Task Force on Social and Youth Development GB, pays special Tribute to our young National Hero Dr Usama who lost his precious life while fighting against CoronaVirus. Best example to serve humanity. <a href="https://t.co/nle6sPdBj8">https://t.co/nle6sPdBj8</a> <a href="https://t.co/n9ptvpyXUx">pic.twitter.com/n9ptvpyXUx</a></p>— CM Task Force On Youth And Social Development GB (@CmTask) <a href="https://twitter.com/CmTask/status/1241784358001934339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">نہایت ہی افسوس کے ساتھ محکمہ صحت گلگت بلتستان اس بات کی تصدیق کررہا ہے کہ کورونا وائرس کے خلاف جنگ میں ہر اول دستے کا کردار ادا کرنے والے ڈاکٹر اسامہ ریاض جام شہادت نوش کر گئے ہیں ۔شہید کو قومی ہیرو کا درجہ دیا جائے گا ۔۔<br>*محکمہ اطلاعات گلگت بلتستان *</p>— Information Department Gilgit-Baltistan (@IDGB_Official) <a href="https://twitter.com/IDGB_Official/status/1241753433759256581?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Karachi and Sukkur Airports will be closed for domestic flights as well from March 24th. The NOTAM has been issued. Previously, only international flights were suspended
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">As of now, we have 225 confirmed cases of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a>. DGK quarantine 175, Lahore 34, Gujrat 4, Gujranwala 4, Jhelum 3, Rawalpindi 2, Multan 2 & Sargodha has 1 patient. <br><br>We are suspending <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/MetroBusService?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#MetroBusService</a>, temporarily, and disinfecting all buses. <br>Stay Home, Stay Safe!</p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1241801017366323201?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>


Punjab government has recently upped their game after sleeping while all hell was breaking lose in Sindh. Dair aye durust aye.... accurate and timely dissemination of information and concrete measures being taken.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">3 Media persons now infected by the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaVirus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaVirus</a>. May Allah grant them speedy and full recovery</p>— Mubasher Lucman (@mubasherlucman) <a href="https://twitter.com/mubasherlucman/status/1241793096842649601?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Syed1 said:
Inna lillahi wa inna illahi rajioon


Pakistani doctor in GB has sadly passed away.... he was deputed to do the initial screening of people arriving into GB. He unfortunately had some underlying health issues. May Allah grant him the highest rank in Jannat


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Govt of GB and CM Task Force on Social and Youth Development GB, pays special Tribute to our young National Hero Dr Usama who lost his precious life while fighting against CoronaVirus. Best example to serve humanity. <a href="https://t.co/nle6sPdBj8">https://t.co/nle6sPdBj8</a> <a href="https://t.co/n9ptvpyXUx">pic.twitter.com/n9ptvpyXUx</a></p>— CM Task Force On Youth And Social Development GB (@CmTask) <a href="https://twitter.com/CmTask/status/1241784358001934339?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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May Allah grant him Jannat. A hero of the times. The govt must make sure his family are looked after.
 
Musakhel said:
Pakistan government should have not allowed the Pakistani back from Iran, as they did not Allow the students back from wuhan.
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China had better resources to treat infected Iran had worse so both decisions were correct. Just iran pilgrims needed to be quarantined better though.
 
776 total cases in Pakistan. 5 deaths and 5 recoveries according to official data on the govt website. A PIA flight attendant has also tested positive who travelled in a flight from Oslo, Noway to Pakistan three days ago
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The lockdown begins<br><br>The Clifton underpass in Karachi just a little while ago <a href="https://t.co/d3sXWvT4Fr">pic.twitter.com/d3sXWvT4Fr</a></p>— omar r quraishi (@omar_quraishi) <a href="https://twitter.com/omar_quraishi/status/1241807588070764545?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="und" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/LockDownKarachi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#LockDownKarachi</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RangersPoliceFlagMarch?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RangersPoliceFlagMarch</a><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdownsindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdownsindh</a> <a href="https://t.co/RfLeItcoLR">pic.twitter.com/RfLeItcoLR</a></p>— Samar Abbas (@Samarjournalist) <a href="https://twitter.com/Samarjournalist/status/1241804475226095624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">JUST IN: Sindh Rangers ready to lockdown the city tonight as per Sindh Govt's order. Remember, it's care for you instead of curfew. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaFreePakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaFreePakistan</a> <a href="https://t.co/iCGHkSwmGh">pic.twitter.com/iCGHkSwmGh</a></p>— Syed Raza Mehdi (@SyedRezaMehdi) <a href="https://twitter.com/SyedRezaMehdi/status/1241802549411426304?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
am i the only one here who thinks that its already too late to impose the lockdown .... becoz God forbid, what we will see in couple of weeks, its looks scary to me .....
 
Current feels

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Karachi is silent today. Meray Shehar get well soon. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karachilockdown?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karachilockdown</a> <a href="https://t.co/34Kp5rWvnr">pic.twitter.com/34Kp5rWvnr</a></p>— samar. (@samarfactor) <a href="https://twitter.com/samarfactor/status/1241859942329520128?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Lonewarrior said:
am i the only one here who thinks that its already too late to impose the lockdown .... becoz God forbid, what we will see in couple of weeks, its looks scary to me .....
Click to expand...

What we should not do is spread panic, as PM said "ghabrana nahi hai"
 
Lol Pak awaam should be made to watch Waqar Zaka insta story from today on repeat tab ja kar aqal mein ayega
 
Lonewarrior said:
am i the only one here who thinks that its already too late to impose the lockdown .... becoz God forbid, what we will see in couple of weeks, its looks scary to me .....
Click to expand...

It's not too late even if we have 10k infections this stops it from becoming 100-200k in 6-7 days.
 
Syed1 said:
A bit of good news in the doom and gloom, can any doc tell me if we can extract the antibodies from a recovered patient and give it to a currently infected person? [MENTION=140234]DRsohail[/MENTION] [MENTION=146141]Hermoine Green[/MENTION]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 4th patient of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> who is a resident of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karachi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karachi</a> has recovered and tested negative twice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaFreePakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaFreePakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanVsCorona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanVsCorona</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241784883481108480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...
That has been tried on two patients so far and showed good result but It requires alot of effort and trails.Let see.
 
Another good news yet so far...US has developed typhidot like igm and igg like test which a lay man can perform in his home..and soon be available in market...approved by FDA.So that test will greatly help and minimize risk to health care professinal...not taking swab of patients.
 
Pakistanis stranded at 4 international airports to be brought home

With international flight operations suspended until April 4, the federal government has decided to make special arrangements to bring home the Pakistanis stranded at airports in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Thailand and Turkey.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf has said that a decision had been made in principle that Pakistanis stranded at airports of the four countries would be brought home.

“However, I suggest that other Pakistanis, who have yet to start their journey, should continue to stay in the countries where they are at the moment. Within a fortnight we will devise a strategy to ensure that the virus does not travel to Pakistan along with the passengers,” he said.

Source Dawn.
 
Still remember the politicised outcry when we did not bring back affected from Wuhan. Now, all of a sudden everyone's gone quiet - some even taking a u-turn as to why has there been infiltration from Taftan.

If only we can let the government do their job and support them, Inshallah we will succeed together. Must hand it out to Sindh authorities who have been proactive. In Lahore, things are now slowly starting to be understood, realised. The markets were closed day before yesterday, but got busy again yesterday in the afternoon. But it is much better than what we were seeing 3-4 days back.
 
Syed1 said:
A bit of good news in the doom and gloom, can any doc tell me if we can extract the antibodies from a recovered patient and give it to a currently infected person? [MENTION=140234]DRsohail[/MENTION] [MENTION=146141]Hermoine Green[/MENTION]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The 4th patient of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> who is a resident of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Karachi?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Karachi</a> has recovered and tested negative twice. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CoronaFreePakistan?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CoronaFreePakistan</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PakistanVsCorona?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PakistanVsCorona</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241784883481108480?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

We are working on that in our Lab and some tests have been done and as per doctor reports positive percentage is higher than the negative, results are good but you can't apply it on 700 or 1000s of people.A group is trying to find a solution in order to SPEED UP the process, then it will be fruitful at larger scale.

Since you have asked i would like to request all of ya do remember Doctors Police man science persons e.t.c in your duas, honestly we people (in the lab) are wearing safety gadgets since 4 days continuously and it SUCKS, it has left beautiful bruises on our body/faces :)))

This nation needs danda and duas, because in coming days you will be getting bad and bad news.

May Allah protect whole humanity from this disaster.
 
[MENTION=138254]Syed1[/MENTION]

Share you 2cents :))

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="hi" dir="ltr">Shabash!! <a href="https://t.co/L81a0XdJic">pic.twitter.com/L81a0XdJic</a></p>— Shiffa Z. Yousafzai (@Shiffa_ZY) <a href="https://twitter.com/Shiffa_ZY/status/1241925739081011200?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Syed1 said:
Yes, this death-infected ratio for Pakistan is an anomaly for me as well. Even India has more deaths despite having half the number of infected cases. Places like Philippines and Indonesia have half as many cases as Pakistan yet they have over two dozens deaths each (48 in Indonesia). I hope the number of fatalities remain low.

Also Pakistan's number is HUGE but again it should be noted the bulk of those infected are zaireen in quarantine.

This is an example of Sindh, they tested about 1300 zaireen while they were in quarantine and about 200 came out as positive. In Karachi there are 123 cases, and 77 of them are local transmission (meaning contacts of those that had traveled). The rest are travelers themselves. So if we stop all travel (done now) and systematically search and identify all travelers and their next of kin then we might God willing grab the bull by the horns.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Update of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> cases in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a> as on 22.03.2020<br><br>Karachi:<br>-Positive: 123<br>-Cured: 3<br>-Deaths: 1<br>-77 cases out of 123 in Karachi are of Local Transmission<br><br>Pilgrims Sukkur:<br>-Positive: 210<br>-Negative: 1126<br><br>Total Cases in Sindh: 333<br>Patients Under Treatment: 329<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/SindhHealth?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#SindhHealth</a></p>— Health and Population Welfare Department, Sindh (@SindhHealthDpt) <a href="https://twitter.com/SindhHealthDpt/status/1241717172973510658?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Click to expand...

Good News or Bad News :
Overwhelming majority of Covid-19 +ve Zaireens is ASYMPTOMATIC.

This demands lockdown and OTOH this also eases the Phobia.
 
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border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div></div></div><div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display:block; height:50px; margin:0 auto 12px; width:50px;"><svg width="50px" height="50px" viewBox="0 0 60 60" version="1.1" xmlns="https://www.w3.org/2000/svg" xmlns:xlink="https://www.w3.org/1999/xlink"><g stroke="none" stroke-width="1" fill="none" fill-rule="evenodd"><g transform="translate(-511.000000, -20.000000)" fill="#000000"><g><path d="M556.869,30.41 C554.814,30.41 553.148,32.076 553.148,34.131 C553.148,36.186 554.814,37.852 556.869,37.852 C558.924,37.852 560.59,36.186 560.59,34.131 C560.59,32.076 558.924,30.41 556.869,30.41 M541,60.657 C535.114,60.657 530.342,55.887 530.342,50 C530.342,44.114 535.114,39.342 541,39.342 C546.887,39.342 551.658,44.114 551.658,50 C551.658,55.887 546.887,60.657 541,60.657 M541,33.886 C532.1,33.886 524.886,41.1 524.886,50 C524.886,58.899 532.1,66.113 541,66.113 C549.9,66.113 557.115,58.899 557.115,50 C557.115,41.1 549.9,33.886 541,33.886 M565.378,62.101 C565.244,65.022 564.756,66.606 564.346,67.663 C563.803,69.06 563.154,70.057 562.106,71.106 C561.058,72.155 560.06,72.803 558.662,73.347 C557.607,73.757 556.021,74.244 553.102,74.378 C549.944,74.521 548.997,74.552 541,74.552 C533.003,74.552 532.056,74.521 528.898,74.378 C525.979,74.244 524.393,73.757 523.338,73.347 C521.94,72.803 520.942,72.155 519.894,71.106 C518.846,70.057 518.197,69.06 517.654,67.663 C517.244,66.606 516.755,65.022 516.623,62.101 C516.479,58.943 516.448,57.996 516.448,50 C516.448,42.003 516.479,41.056 516.623,37.899 C516.755,34.978 517.244,33.391 517.654,32.338 C518.197,30.938 518.846,29.942 519.894,28.894 C520.942,27.846 521.94,27.196 523.338,26.654 C524.393,26.244 525.979,25.756 528.898,25.623 C532.057,25.479 533.004,25.448 541,25.448 C548.997,25.448 549.943,25.479 553.102,25.623 C556.021,25.756 557.607,26.244 558.662,26.654 C560.06,27.196 561.058,27.846 562.106,28.894 C563.154,29.942 563.803,30.938 564.346,32.338 C564.756,33.391 565.244,34.978 565.378,37.899 C565.522,41.056 565.552,42.003 565.552,50 C565.552,57.996 565.522,58.943 565.378,62.101 M570.82,37.631 C570.674,34.438 570.167,32.258 569.425,30.349 C568.659,28.377 567.633,26.702 565.965,25.035 C564.297,23.368 562.623,22.342 560.652,21.575 C558.743,20.834 556.562,20.326 553.369,20.18 C550.169,20.033 549.148,20 541,20 C532.853,20 531.831,20.033 528.631,20.18 C525.438,20.326 523.257,20.834 521.349,21.575 C519.376,22.342 517.703,23.368 516.035,25.035 C514.368,26.702 513.342,28.377 512.574,30.349 C511.834,32.258 511.326,34.438 511.181,37.631 C511.035,40.831 511,41.851 511,50 C511,58.147 511.035,59.17 511.181,62.369 C511.326,65.562 511.834,67.743 512.574,69.651 C513.342,71.625 514.368,73.296 516.035,74.965 C517.703,76.634 519.376,77.658 521.349,78.425 C523.257,79.167 525.438,79.673 528.631,79.82 C531.831,79.965 532.853,80.001 541,80.001 C549.148,80.001 550.169,79.965 553.369,79.82 C556.562,79.673 558.743,79.167 560.652,78.425 C562.623,77.658 564.297,76.634 565.965,74.965 C567.633,73.296 568.659,71.625 569.425,69.651 C570.167,67.743 570.674,65.562 570.82,62.369 C570.966,59.17 571,58.147 571,50 C571,41.851 570.966,40.831 570.82,37.631"></path></g></g></g></svg></div><div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style=" color:#3897f0; 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transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg)"></div></div><div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style=" width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"></div> <div style=" background-color: #F4F4F4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"></div> <div style=" width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"></div></div></div></a> <p style=" margin:8px 0 0 0; padding:0 4px;"> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/B-CMV5ppu93/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#000; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px; text-decoration:none; word-wrap:break-word;" target="_blank">‪In sindh, I have a feeling that from tonight Army, Rangers & Police will take strict action & if a person is caught outdoors for no valid reason, will go to jail. The officer will decide if the person is out for a valid reason,& if not,will be taken to task #lockdownsindh #lockdownpakistan ‬</a></p> <p style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px; margin-bottom:0; margin-top:8px; overflow:hidden; padding:8px 0 7px; text-align:center; text-overflow:ellipsis; white-space:nowrap;">A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/officialshehzadroy/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" style=" color:#c9c8cd; font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; font-style:normal; font-weight:normal; line-height:17px;" target="_blank"> Shehzad Roy</a> (@officialshehzadroy) on <time style=" font-family:Arial,sans-serif; font-size:14px; line-height:17px;" datetime="2020-03-22T11:29:55+00:00">Mar 22, 2020 at 4:29am PDT</time></p></div></blockquote> <script async src="//www.instagram.com/embed.js"></script>
 
Lonewarrior said:
am i the only one here who thinks that its already too late to impose the lockdown .... becoz God forbid, what we will see in couple of weeks, its looks scary to me .....
Click to expand...

no its not been to late. Your deaths are in single figures, even if they rise the majority seem to be related to the zaireen and the state knows where these people and their relatives have been. Also they seem to know where the clusters are.

Deaths will go up. It is inevitable but the key is managing the load. Testing is key, strategic lockdowns to flatten the upward curve. So far the country seems to be doing this. People are getting the message.

But more needs to happen. And now with the army out on the streets it will happen.

Do not panic. If you do a poor country like Pakistan will not be able to cope

I have spoken to a couple of people who are either doctors or have doctor friends in the emergency dept here in the uk. It is about to get very very dangerous here. departments are about to be overwhelmed. there is not enough equipment to help junior doctors. There are not enough doctors. The virus is spreading like mad. Over 10,000 unofficial cases and deaths are rising. young people are also catching it now. Some in intensive care. There is no lockdown, people are out on the beach enjoying the weather and travelling to northern areas and rural beauty spots. Some celebrities are posting videos how to "eff" the covid virus and not change your behaviour.

Be thankful you are in pakistan brother if you are. They are at least trying. The british think they can beat this virus by shouting at it and swearing at it..
 
PESHAWAR (Reuters) - When Saadat Khan, 50, returned to Pakistan on March 9 from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he was greeted in his village with a rousing welcome and a grand feast attended by more than 2,000 people, many of whom embraced him warmly.

On March 18, less than 10 days later, Khan died at an isolation center for coronavirus patients in the northwestern city of Mardan. He died from COVID-19, the day his test results came back positive.

Khan was Pakistan’s first fatality from a disease that is rapidly spreading through the country of 220 million people. The virus has already infected over 317,000 people worldwide, and killed more than 13,000.

The number of confirmed cases in Pakistan has soared to more than 750 from 22 last week, largely driven by a wave of pilgrims returning from Iran who Pakistani authorities said were inadequately tested and improperly isolated. At least four people have died from the disease in Pakistan in the past week.

Thousands of people now need to undergo the slow process of retesting, and authorities fear the number of cases could surge in coming days.

Health experts say there is a lack of public awareness in Pakistan about the virus and that the cash-strapped government is ill-prepared to tackle its spread. A shortage of quarantine facilities and testing labs have also hampered efforts to effectively deal with high-risk cases.

In Sindh, Pakistan’s hardest-hit province, the situation is already grim, said Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, the head of department for infectious diseases at Indus Hospital in Karachi. She said that the few hospitals equipped to handle COVID-19 cases in Karachi are either close to capacity or have shut their doors because they can’t handle the influx of suspected cases.

“We’re likely to have a very big outbreak no matter what we do now,” she said. “And we will not be equipped to handle the numbers. There will be breakdowns at many levels.” Better border controls and quarantine measures should have been instituted a lot earlier, she said. “I think the cat’s now out of the bag.”

Zafar Mirza, Pakistan’s health minister, who said last week that some of Pakistan’s quarantine facilities had not been “ideal”, did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. The provincial health minister in Khan’s home province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters interviewed three doctors involved in the case, as well as four people from Khan’s village, and reviewed medical case notes detailing his travel history. Together, they provide a picture of Khan’s last days, and illustrate why the South Asian nation is rapidly becoming the latest hotbed of the fast-spreading disease.

FATEFUL JOURNEY

In late February, Khan flew to Saudi Arabia to visit the holy city of Mecca for Umrah, a religious pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims from across the world each year. Khan entered the country just before it shut its borders to Umrah pilgrims, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Khan was in Saudi Arabia for two to three weeks, according to the doctors handling his case and an acquaintance from his village.

Medical case notes, provided by one of Khan’s doctors, show that he departed from the kingdom’s Jeddah International Airport on March 8 via flight number PK736, which landed the following day at Peshawar International Airport, in northwest Pakistan.

At least two people who knew Khan said he was already ill when he got on the plane and needed assistance on arrival in Pakistan.

Despite Pakistan having identified its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 two weeks prior, the case notes state Khan was only asked to fill out a form and did not undergo a medical screening at the Peshawar airport.

Khan did not mention any illness, and he would have escaped detection anyway if he had taken fever suppressors, said a Peshawar airport official who asked not to be named.

Authorities are also scrambling to trace dozens of other passengers on flight PK736 that night, as well as airport staff who assisted Khan.

While it is unclear if doctors could have forced Khan into quarantine, the case notes indicate he refused to be isolated. Instead, he went home, where he lived with his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, three daughters and four grandchildren.

Hospital officials say Khan returned on March 17, when his symptoms intensified. On March 18, test results confirmed he was infected with COVID-19, and he was moved to an isolation center, where he died the same day.

It is the events before his death, though, that have worried medical officials and alarmed many residents of his village.

On March 9, Khan was greeted with a mass gathering in his village, as is traditional in Pakistan when someone returns from Umrah. According to local authorities, some 2,000 people were in attendance at the lunch – most of whom embraced Khan.

Khan also ran a popular “medical clinic” in his village – though he wasn’t a qualified doctor, say local health officials.

As is the case in many rural areas of Pakistan, people with just rudimentary medical knowledge often run such dispensaries to treat patients with ailments like fevers and colds, despite not having any qualifications.

Khan had not resumed his practice on returning to Pakistan, but his sons ran it for him while he stayed at home in “self-quarantine,” health officials from the village told Reuters.

However, they added, the “self-quarantine” involved his sons staying in the same room as him. The sons in turn also tended to dozens of patients at their father’s clinic during that period.

Reuters was unable to speak with anyone in Khan’s family.

There is mass panic in the village, local residents told Reuters via phone, adding that no one had taken the coronavirus threat seriously prior to this.

“There are hundreds of people believed to have been infected but they are hiding and reluctant to go to hospital,” said Liaqat Ali Shah, a local social worker, adding that villagers feared being ostracized by the community and shunned by healthcare workers.

The village, Union Council Mangah, was locked down following Khan’s death, according to an official directive from authorities.

A complete lockdown was ordered “with immediate effect and there shall be no entry and no exit,” the order seen by Reuters read.

The village of about 7,000 people, has been declared a mass quarantine zone, according to the provincial government, and testing has begun.

But residents of Mangah say none of the officials surveying the area have testing kits with them.

A medical worker on the ground said test kits were limited so they couldn’t test everyone and were only testing patients displaying symptoms.

“There’s a virtual lockdown in the village and movement is restricted,” a school teacher in the village, told Reuters via phone.

Despite this, at least four people showing symptoms, including two members of Khan’s family, are now missing and have gone underground, health officials told Reuters.

All four had tested positive for COVID-19, the officials said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...h-exposes-nations-vulnerability-idUSKBN21A0X1
 
LAHORE: Pleas by the Punjab government for people to stay at home went in vain as people continued to visit public places, parks, markets and other venues in Lahore on Sunday, reported The News.

The City District Government of Lahore also failed to enforce a ban on opening of businesses in the provincial metropolis.

Although the local government has launched an awareness drive, advised citizens to frequently wash hands, cover their faces while sneezing and coughing and avoid large gatherings, citizens continue to maintain their life as they did before the pandemic hit Pakistan.

A visit to residential localities by a correspondent of The News showed that majority of the markets were open and people were gathering in flocks. Barbershops, motorcycle and car mechanics, service stations, hardware and sanitary stores, juice corners, small restaurants, LPG filling shops, mobile shops, book shops, sports goods shops were also found open and being frequented by the residents.

Apart from this, roadside stalls of garments, glasses, fruits and vegetables, other edibles were also open and attracting people. Similarly, tuck shops situated on petrol pumps were also operative without any fear of the district administration.

Open playgrounds in various city localities were the most crowded places as hundreds of youths could be seen playing cricket. However, following public complaints several grounds were forcibly vacated by district administration and police.

A large number of citizens were also seen on the roads.

Bashir Ahmed, a resident of Lahore’s Faisal Town, riding a bike along with his two small children and wife, when asked where he was going, said he was going to meet his brother who lives in the Mughalpura area of Lahore. When asked why he was putting himself and his family at risk, he stated that if his death is written due to coronavirus then no one can change that.

A teenage rickshaw driver Kallu, a resident of Lahore’s Green Town area, said that he has to feed his ailing parents and two sisters which is why he was out on the roads. He shared that he could not stay indoor as he had no savings or any other options to earn money and meet his daily expenditures.

Nadeem Ahmed, a tailor sitting in a small shop which was half-open and half-closed in the Ichhra area said that he could not work from home.

“I am using hand sanitizer and washing hands in routine and wearing a face mask while at work,” he said. "If I don't work who will provide a meal for my family."

Zareena Bibi, a housemaid, said her house owner asked her to come to work or be ready for daily deductions.

“How can I stay at home,” she said. "If I don't work, I can't eat or get food and other essentials for my family. I know I am inviting death by coming out but my fate is similar in case I stay at home."

Hundreds of similar people have no other earning options. Many of them have demanded the government provide them rations in case it wanted them to stay indoors.

On the other hand, many philanthropists/organisations have floated their contact numbers on social media offering provision of food and meal for the poor and daily wagers but most of the poor and daily wagers have no access to social media platforms so this effort might not get the desired results.

Citizens have demanded the government arrange food and meals for such people with the help of philanthropists and other organisations in an organised manner so that all deserving people could get their share.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/278721-punjab-govts-repeated-pleas-for-social-distancing-fall-on-deaf-ears
 
MenInG said:
PESHAWAR (Reuters) - When Saadat Khan, 50, returned to Pakistan on March 9 from a pilgrimage to Saudi Arabia, he was greeted in his village with a rousing welcome and a grand feast attended by more than 2,000 people, many of whom embraced him warmly.

On March 18, less than 10 days later, Khan died at an isolation center for coronavirus patients in the northwestern city of Mardan. He died from COVID-19, the day his test results came back positive.

Khan was Pakistan’s first fatality from a disease that is rapidly spreading through the country of 220 million people. The virus has already infected over 317,000 people worldwide, and killed more than 13,000.

The number of confirmed cases in Pakistan has soared to more than 750 from 22 last week, largely driven by a wave of pilgrims returning from Iran who Pakistani authorities said were inadequately tested and improperly isolated. At least four people have died from the disease in Pakistan in the past week.

Thousands of people now need to undergo the slow process of retesting, and authorities fear the number of cases could surge in coming days.

Health experts say there is a lack of public awareness in Pakistan about the virus and that the cash-strapped government is ill-prepared to tackle its spread. A shortage of quarantine facilities and testing labs have also hampered efforts to effectively deal with high-risk cases.

In Sindh, Pakistan’s hardest-hit province, the situation is already grim, said Dr. Naseem Salahuddin, the head of department for infectious diseases at Indus Hospital in Karachi. She said that the few hospitals equipped to handle COVID-19 cases in Karachi are either close to capacity or have shut their doors because they can’t handle the influx of suspected cases.

“We’re likely to have a very big outbreak no matter what we do now,” she said. “And we will not be equipped to handle the numbers. There will be breakdowns at many levels.” Better border controls and quarantine measures should have been instituted a lot earlier, she said. “I think the cat’s now out of the bag.”

Zafar Mirza, Pakistan’s health minister, who said last week that some of Pakistan’s quarantine facilities had not been “ideal”, did not respond to Reuters’ requests for comment. The provincial health minister in Khan’s home province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also did not respond to a request for comment.

Reuters interviewed three doctors involved in the case, as well as four people from Khan’s village, and reviewed medical case notes detailing his travel history. Together, they provide a picture of Khan’s last days, and illustrate why the South Asian nation is rapidly becoming the latest hotbed of the fast-spreading disease.

FATEFUL JOURNEY

In late February, Khan flew to Saudi Arabia to visit the holy city of Mecca for Umrah, a religious pilgrimage performed by millions of Muslims from across the world each year. Khan entered the country just before it shut its borders to Umrah pilgrims, in a bid to stem the spread of COVID-19.

Khan was in Saudi Arabia for two to three weeks, according to the doctors handling his case and an acquaintance from his village.

Medical case notes, provided by one of Khan’s doctors, show that he departed from the kingdom’s Jeddah International Airport on March 8 via flight number PK736, which landed the following day at Peshawar International Airport, in northwest Pakistan.

At least two people who knew Khan said he was already ill when he got on the plane and needed assistance on arrival in Pakistan.

Despite Pakistan having identified its first confirmed cases of COVID-19 two weeks prior, the case notes state Khan was only asked to fill out a form and did not undergo a medical screening at the Peshawar airport.

Khan did not mention any illness, and he would have escaped detection anyway if he had taken fever suppressors, said a Peshawar airport official who asked not to be named.

Authorities are also scrambling to trace dozens of other passengers on flight PK736 that night, as well as airport staff who assisted Khan.

While it is unclear if doctors could have forced Khan into quarantine, the case notes indicate he refused to be isolated. Instead, he went home, where he lived with his wife, three sons, two daughters-in-law, three daughters and four grandchildren.

Hospital officials say Khan returned on March 17, when his symptoms intensified. On March 18, test results confirmed he was infected with COVID-19, and he was moved to an isolation center, where he died the same day.

It is the events before his death, though, that have worried medical officials and alarmed many residents of his village.

On March 9, Khan was greeted with a mass gathering in his village, as is traditional in Pakistan when someone returns from Umrah. According to local authorities, some 2,000 people were in attendance at the lunch – most of whom embraced Khan.

Khan also ran a popular “medical clinic” in his village – though he wasn’t a qualified doctor, say local health officials.

As is the case in many rural areas of Pakistan, people with just rudimentary medical knowledge often run such dispensaries to treat patients with ailments like fevers and colds, despite not having any qualifications.

Khan had not resumed his practice on returning to Pakistan, but his sons ran it for him while he stayed at home in “self-quarantine,” health officials from the village told Reuters.

However, they added, the “self-quarantine” involved his sons staying in the same room as him. The sons in turn also tended to dozens of patients at their father’s clinic during that period.

Reuters was unable to speak with anyone in Khan’s family.

There is mass panic in the village, local residents told Reuters via phone, adding that no one had taken the coronavirus threat seriously prior to this.

“There are hundreds of people believed to have been infected but they are hiding and reluctant to go to hospital,” said Liaqat Ali Shah, a local social worker, adding that villagers feared being ostracized by the community and shunned by healthcare workers.

The village, Union Council Mangah, was locked down following Khan’s death, according to an official directive from authorities.

A complete lockdown was ordered “with immediate effect and there shall be no entry and no exit,” the order seen by Reuters read.

The village of about 7,000 people, has been declared a mass quarantine zone, according to the provincial government, and testing has begun.

But residents of Mangah say none of the officials surveying the area have testing kits with them.

A medical worker on the ground said test kits were limited so they couldn’t test everyone and were only testing patients displaying symptoms.

“There’s a virtual lockdown in the village and movement is restricted,” a school teacher in the village, told Reuters via phone.

Despite this, at least four people showing symptoms, including two members of Khan’s family, are now missing and have gone underground, health officials told Reuters.

All four had tested positive for COVID-19, the officials said.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-...h-exposes-nations-vulnerability-idUSKBN21A0X1
Click to expand...

Khan.jpg
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">*Assistant Commissioner Shaha Faisal Noor Mustafa Laghari raid at Imtiaz Super Market Korangi Road in regard of Profiteering & Hoarding in the Markets*. <a href="https://t.co/Prlvu51Yyv">pic.twitter.com/Prlvu51Yyv</a></p>— Deputy Commissioner Korangi, Karachi (@DeputyKorangi) <a href="https://twitter.com/DeputyKorangi/status/1241829532895784960?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 22, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
5 Tableeghi Jamaat members in Islamabad test positive for virus

Five more members of a Tableeghi Jamaat in Islamabad's Bhara Kahu area have tested positive for coronavirus, according to ASP Hamza Amanullah.

A group of 13 people, including six foreigners, were sitting in tableegh in Kot Hathial, the official said, adding that one of the foreigners had tested positive for the coronavirus earlier.

We tested five more people from the group and the results came back positive, he said. He added that six more people from the group are also being tested.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">کراچی میں شاہ فیصل کالونی میں لاک ڈاون کی خلاف ورزی پر پولیس نے لڑ کوں کو مرغابنا دیا۔ <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/%D9%BE%D9%84%DB%8C%D8%B2%DA%AF%DA%BE%D8%B1%D9%BE%D8%B1%D8%B1%DB%81%DB%8C%DA%BA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#پلیزگھرپررہیں</a> <a href="https://t.co/A1iKIuMme7">pic.twitter.com/A1iKIuMme7</a></p>— Live Magazine (@LiveMagazinepak) <a href="https://twitter.com/LiveMagazinepak/status/1242036227945238531?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 23, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Social distancing :inti
 
Buzdar announces partial lockdown in Punjab

Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced a 14-day partial lockdown in the province as part of an effort to contain the novel coronavirus.

Malls, parks and public places will be closed and pillion riding will also be banned. The lockdown will remain in place until April 6.
 
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