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Coronavirus in Pakistan

Another 68 people recover from Covid-19 in Pakistan

Another 68 people have recovered from Covid-19 in Pakistan during the past 24 hours, according to the government's portal for tracking the spread of the disease in the country, taking the total number of recoveries to 1,446.
 
KARACHI/LAHORE: Authorities in Sindh and Punjab on Tuesday issued notifications regarding the extension of a coronavirus lockdown but identified industries and businesses that would be permitted to resume operations.

The National Coordination Committee of the federal cabinet, that met yesterday with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, had decided to ease the virus lockdown and allow limited economic activity in the country to mitigate the impact of an economic crisis.

Various low-risk industries and sectors, including construction, chemical manufacturing, fertilizers, mining, glass manufacturing, e-commerce, and some others, were given the green light to re-open with safety protocols in place.

Following the announcement of the federal government, the Sindh government’s home department issued a notification detailing the extension of the virus the lockdown in the province till April 30.

Under the new directives, the takeaway service from restaurants would also remain closed in the period, whereas home delivery of the food services would be allowed to continue. All religious congregations and gatherings of people at religious shrines would not be allowed during this period, the notification started.

All public transport would also remain shut in the province during this period. Visits to jail to meet the prisoners would also not be allowed during this period. The citizens would not be allowed to leave their homes from 5pm till 8am except in emergency cases. The pillion riding on motorcycles will not be allowed during this period, the notification said.

The sectors and industries granted exemption from the lockdown include the construction sector, the chemical industry, manufacturing plants, e-commerce, business process outsourcing, call centres, energy-related business (gas, LNG, refineries, and exploration), export-oriented industries, industries with labour within premises, industries with low labour component, including cement, chemicals, fertilizers, paper and packaging, plumbers, carpenters, electricians, dry cleaners, laundry, horticulture, veterinary services, software and programming, glass manufacturing, books and stationery shops, among others.

The notification says that the threat of the spread of COVID-19 has not subsided and that the opening up of different sectors and businesses is subject to strict adherence to the SOPs.

The SOPs issued by the Sindh Home Department relates to general working of the above businesses, social distancing among the employees, workplace cleanliness, regulations related to visitors and customers, transportation of human resource, goods’ transportation and related matters to minimize the risk of the COVID-19 spread.

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf government in Punjab, in a notification issued on Tuesday, also relaxed the lockdown restrictions till April 25.

Currently, Punjab accounts for most of the confirmed virus cases in the country with 2,945 confirmed patients.

The notification exempted a number of businesses from the lockdown order. These businesses would be allowed to operate after meeting the guidelines set by the authorities to maintain social distancing.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/282920-lockdown-sindh-punjab-notify-opening-of-certain-industries-business
 
Section 144 extended in Islamabad till April 30

The Islamabad administration has extended Section 144 (an order to prohibit the assembly of four or more people in an area) of the Code of Criminal Procedure in the federal capital due to the coronavirus outbreak.

5e96bc7408a7a.jpg
 
Directly or indirectly, Everyone is affected. All have suffered. And Mortalities are relatively low. Barring few random incidents here and there, Good job so far everyone. InshahAllah we will be in safe zone soon.
 
Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said that the restrictions during the lockdown, which has been extended for the next two weeks, will be tougher than before.

"There are exceptions, but they are very calculated," he told the media in a briefing.

He thanked the federal and provincial governments had agreed to extend the lockdown for another 14 weeks and said that "there is obviously danger or else we would have lifted" the lockdown.
 
last_knight said:
Directly or indirectly, Everyone is affected. All have suffered. And Mortalities are relatively low. Barring few random incidents here and there, Good job so far everyone. InshahAllah we will be in safe zone soon.
Click to expand...
[MENTION=7774]Robert[/MENTION]

Spoke to my mother who is in Pakistan at the moment and the measures in islamabad alone dwarf anything being done in the uk. for a country with such little money they are doing a hell of a job.
 
Woman killed in Karachi’s PIB area from police fire

KARACHI: A 26-year-old woman was killed late on Tuesday when police opened fire to disperse people fighting over ration which was being distributed among the coronavirus affectees.

The incident took place in Karachi’s PIB colony, where the members of two welfare organisations were distributing rations and a scuffle broke out among them.

After an exchange of harsh words between police and the workers of the charity organisations, a police officer opened fire to disperse the crowd.

A bullet from the policeman’s firing hit Saba who was standing at the rooftop of a nearby building.

She was shifted to a nearby hospital but could not survive as the bullet had pierced her head.

Following the incident, the residents of the area got agitated and protested against the policemen.

The enraged residents also broke the windows of the police mobile by hurling stones at them.

According to the residents, the policeman who opened fire was Head Constable Azeem, who had allegedly harassed the people in the area before too.

Residents said that they had lodged complaints against the said policeman but to no avail.

Police officials said that four policemen, including Azeem, were trying to disperse people after the incident but a girl died accidentally due to the warning shots fired at that time.

Police said that the weapon has been confiscated from Azeem and an investigation into the incident is underway.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/282941-ka...-fire-to-disperse-people-brawling-over-ration
 
'Known deaths' so far are 41 but number can be higher, says CM Shah

Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah said that the "known deaths" from Covid-19 in the province are 41, but warned that the number could be much higher.

He said that there were about 15 cases in which the people were already dead when they were brought to the hospital and therefore could not be tested.

45 virus patients Sindh are critical, says Murad

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said 45 patients of the novel coronavirus in the province are critical.

The chief minister also regretted that "big organisations" were disclosing the names of their employees who have tested positive.

https://www.dawn.com/live-blog/
 
Why are Karachi’s hospitals getting more DOAs, near-death patients?

When a 35-year-old woman was brought dead to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) emergency this past Saturday, the doctors on duty decided to get her chest X-rayed, because for the last several days, they had been observing an increase in the number of patients either being brought in dead or dying within hours of their arrival.

“The examination of the X-ray of the deceased woman revealed that there was a large patch on her lungs, which indicated that she was suffering from some kind of lower respiratory tract illness,” revealed the doctor on emergency duty.

“I sent the X-ray to a well-known pulmonologist, who is treating COVID-19 patients at a tertiary-care hospital, and his reply confirmed my fears. ‘It is most probably COVID pneumonia’ was the answer of the chest specialist.”

Besides the woman with the fluid-filled lungs, more than 300 such patients have been brought to different public and private hospitals in the past 15 days — all of them either dead on arrival (DOA) or extremely sick with “pneumonia-like symptoms”, who died within hours of their arrival, said health officials.

Unfortunately, they said, except for a few such patients whose bodies were sent for an X-ray, majority of the deceased were neither examined for ascertaining the cause of their death nor sent for a post-mortem examination.

Most likely causes of their deaths were “severe illnesses” — ranging from chronic liver disease, multiple organ failure and cardiopulmonary arrest to renal failure, pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), added the officials.

“We started observing this trend by the end of last month, when we saw that the number of patients requiring emergency treatment had declined from 1,800-2,000 to 600-700 a day,” said the critical care specialist at the JPMC.

“But the number of people who either were dead on arrival or died within a couple of hours after their arrival increased with every passing day. Initially, we didn’t pay any heed, but now we’re seeing a pattern. And this is also being reported by other hospitals.”

He said he started noticing the unusual pattern of DOAs and near-death patients from March 31, when seven bodies were brought in — of which one death was due to a road accident — and seven other patients who were brought in alive died before they could be moved to the wards.

“The next day, seven more people were brought in dead and four died during treatment at the emergency. On April 2, seven again were brought in dead while seven died during treatment at the emergency,” said the doctor.

“During the next few days, the number of those brought in dead and those who died during treatment started rising. And on Monday, eight patients were brought in dead while eight died during treatment at the JPMC emergency.”

The emergency medicine specialist said that all these people were in the 45-60 age group, except for a few who were older and a few who were younger like the woman who was brought in dead with lung disease. People in this age group normally don’t die suddenly, he added.

“People between 45 and 60 years of age usually take a few days’ time, while some of them even respond to emergency treatment, but here we are witnessing a strange phenomenon.”

Since March 31, said emergency officials, 109 patients have been brought in dead and 90 who were alive when brought to the JPMC emergency but died mysteriously, and their bodies were handed over to their heirs without ascertaining their cause of death.

Other hospitals

Officials at other public and private hospitals showed reluctance in sharing data with The News on DOAs or on those who died during treatment at their emergencies. They, however, admitted that the number of cases with “pneumonia-like symptoms” is on the rise, and many of those being brought in dead have symptoms of pneumonia or ARDS, which is thought to be caused by the coronavirus.

An official at the Indus Hospital Karachi confirmed that the number of people with severe acute illness had increased during the past two and a half weeks, while daily two to four people were being brought dead to their emergency with pneumonia-like symptoms.

“Since we have a relatively smaller casualty compared to public hospitals, we refer such critically sick patients to either the JPMC or the Civil Hospital Karachi [CHK], while those who are brought in dead, their bodies are handed over to their families immediately.”

Similarly, an emergency care specialist at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases confirmed receiving some patients who were either critically sick or were brought dead to their emergency.

The doctor said that instead of “classic symptoms of cardiac arrest”, those patients had respiratory and other illnesses, who either died before they could be shifted to other hospitals or were already dead when they were examined.

“Once a person is dead, their attendants and relatives hardly provide any history, and refuse to cooperate with the hospital administration. The staff on duty writes the cause of death on the death certificate without any detailed examination and as per the symptoms before handing over the body to the relatives. It’s very difficult to persuade the family for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.”

Officials at the city’s largest public hospital, the CHK, confirmed that the number of critically sick patients and DOAs had increased, but blamed it on the lockdown, saying that people were only bringing in their loved ones when it was absolutely necessary, resulting in the loss of several precious lives.

Sindh Health Department officials refused to comment on the report, but federal health authorities said that all of Pakistan’s 96 COVID-19 deaths, including 35 in Sindh, were brought in serious condition and “very late” to the hospitals, which also contributed to their passing away in addition to the lethal viral disease.

“Data indicates that patients with COVID-19 who have died spent only four days in hospitals and critical care units,” an official of the command & control centre on the novel coronavirus in Islamabad told The News. “This reveals that people are not opting for early treatment, and only go to the hospital when they are extremely sick.”

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/64...spitals-getting-more-doas-near-death-patients
 
Abdullah719 said:
Why are Karachi’s hospitals getting more DOAs, near-death patients?

When a 35-year-old woman was brought dead to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre’s (JPMC) emergency this past Saturday, the doctors on duty decided to get her chest X-rayed, because for the last several days, they had been observing an increase in the number of patients either being brought in dead or dying within hours of their arrival.

“The examination of the X-ray of the deceased woman revealed that there was a large patch on her lungs, which indicated that she was suffering from some kind of lower respiratory tract illness,” revealed the doctor on emergency duty.

“I sent the X-ray to a well-known pulmonologist, who is treating COVID-19 patients at a tertiary-care hospital, and his reply confirmed my fears. ‘It is most probably COVID pneumonia’ was the answer of the chest specialist.”

Besides the woman with the fluid-filled lungs, more than 300 such patients have been brought to different public and private hospitals in the past 15 days — all of them either dead on arrival (DOA) or extremely sick with “pneumonia-like symptoms”, who died within hours of their arrival, said health officials.

Unfortunately, they said, except for a few such patients whose bodies were sent for an X-ray, majority of the deceased were neither examined for ascertaining the cause of their death nor sent for a post-mortem examination.

Most likely causes of their deaths were “severe illnesses” — ranging from chronic liver disease, multiple organ failure and cardiopulmonary arrest to renal failure, pneumonia and even acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS), added the officials.

“We started observing this trend by the end of last month, when we saw that the number of patients requiring emergency treatment had declined from 1,800-2,000 to 600-700 a day,” said the critical care specialist at the JPMC.

“But the number of people who either were dead on arrival or died within a couple of hours after their arrival increased with every passing day. Initially, we didn’t pay any heed, but now we’re seeing a pattern. And this is also being reported by other hospitals.”

He said he started noticing the unusual pattern of DOAs and near-death patients from March 31, when seven bodies were brought in — of which one death was due to a road accident — and seven other patients who were brought in alive died before they could be moved to the wards.

“The next day, seven more people were brought in dead and four died during treatment at the emergency. On April 2, seven again were brought in dead while seven died during treatment at the emergency,” said the doctor.

“During the next few days, the number of those brought in dead and those who died during treatment started rising. And on Monday, eight patients were brought in dead while eight died during treatment at the JPMC emergency.”

The emergency medicine specialist said that all these people were in the 45-60 age group, except for a few who were older and a few who were younger like the woman who was brought in dead with lung disease. People in this age group normally don’t die suddenly, he added.

“People between 45 and 60 years of age usually take a few days’ time, while some of them even respond to emergency treatment, but here we are witnessing a strange phenomenon.”

Since March 31, said emergency officials, 109 patients have been brought in dead and 90 who were alive when brought to the JPMC emergency but died mysteriously, and their bodies were handed over to their heirs without ascertaining their cause of death.

Other hospitals

Officials at other public and private hospitals showed reluctance in sharing data with The News on DOAs or on those who died during treatment at their emergencies. They, however, admitted that the number of cases with “pneumonia-like symptoms” is on the rise, and many of those being brought in dead have symptoms of pneumonia or ARDS, which is thought to be caused by the coronavirus.

An official at the Indus Hospital Karachi confirmed that the number of people with severe acute illness had increased during the past two and a half weeks, while daily two to four people were being brought dead to their emergency with pneumonia-like symptoms.

“Since we have a relatively smaller casualty compared to public hospitals, we refer such critically sick patients to either the JPMC or the Civil Hospital Karachi [CHK], while those who are brought in dead, their bodies are handed over to their families immediately.”

Similarly, an emergency care specialist at the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases confirmed receiving some patients who were either critically sick or were brought dead to their emergency.

The doctor said that instead of “classic symptoms of cardiac arrest”, those patients had respiratory and other illnesses, who either died before they could be shifted to other hospitals or were already dead when they were examined.

“Once a person is dead, their attendants and relatives hardly provide any history, and refuse to cooperate with the hospital administration. The staff on duty writes the cause of death on the death certificate without any detailed examination and as per the symptoms before handing over the body to the relatives. It’s very difficult to persuade the family for an autopsy to ascertain the cause of death.”

Officials at the city’s largest public hospital, the CHK, confirmed that the number of critically sick patients and DOAs had increased, but blamed it on the lockdown, saying that people were only bringing in their loved ones when it was absolutely necessary, resulting in the loss of several precious lives.

Sindh Health Department officials refused to comment on the report, but federal health authorities said that all of Pakistan’s 96 COVID-19 deaths, including 35 in Sindh, were brought in serious condition and “very late” to the hospitals, which also contributed to their passing away in addition to the lethal viral disease.

“Data indicates that patients with COVID-19 who have died spent only four days in hospitals and critical care units,” an official of the command & control centre on the novel coronavirus in Islamabad told The News. “This reveals that people are not opting for early treatment, and only go to the hospital when they are extremely sick.”

https://www.thenews.com.pk/print/64...spitals-getting-more-doas-near-death-patients
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This is a cover up to what I said yesterday.

last_knight said:
I don't want to go in details and source but someone is playing a dirty game in Karachi. Families of deceased are being offered to record deaths under "Corona Deaths".
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They indeed offered or talked about the options with families to include deaths in Corona bracket.
 
PPP is playing a very dangerous game, purposefully not even utilizing their available testing capacity

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CM Sindh keep claiming since the last few days = that they are hoping to scale up testing in Sindh<br><br>They have a capacity of ~2000<br><br>But if you look at the trend for the past 10 days .... it seems to hover around ~585<br><br>What going on ? <a href="https://t.co/4nDUaYIGTw">https://t.co/4nDUaYIGTw</a></p>— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrAwab/status/1250318811565154307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Every passenger arriving in Pakistan will be quarantined, says SAPM Yusuf

All Pakistanis who are arriving from other countries will be quarantined, SAPM Moeed Yusuf has said.

He added that all citizens who wished to stay in hotels will have to bear their own expenses.
 
Covid-19: India to facilitate return of 180 stranded Pakistani nationals

Additional secretary Dammu Ravi issued a letter to authorities in several states on Tuesday to facilitate the return of 41 Pakistani nationals who are currently in different parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

The Indian government is facilitating the repatriation of 180 Pakistani citizens stranded in the country because of the Covid-19 lockdown, with 41 of them set to return via the Wagah-Attari border crossing on Thursday.

People familiar with developments, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the Pakistan high commission in New Delhi had informed Indian authorities that 180 Pakistani nationals wanted to go back home.

“We are coordinating with the concerned authorities to facilitate their departure,” one of the people cited above said.

“The external affairs ministry is facilitating the return of foreign nationals presently in India to their countries. This include the nationals of Pakistan,” the person added.

Additional secretary Dammu Ravi, the external affairs ministry’s point person for all Covid-19-related matters, issued a letter to authorities in several states on Tuesday to facilitate the return of 41 Pakistani nationals who are currently in different parts of Delhi, Haryana, Punjab and Uttar Pradesh.

These 41 Pakistani nationals are set to return to their country via the Wagah-Attari border crossing at 10 am on April 16, the letter stated. The letter also directed the authorities of the concerned states to facilitate the movement of the vehicles that will take the Pakistani nationals to the land border.

“It is requested that all returning Pakistani nationals may be screened as per the international norms and existing provisions of the Government of India and only asymptomatic individuals be allowed to return,” the letter stated.

Like other all crossing points along India’s land borders, the Wagah-Attari crossing was closed as part of the nationwide lockdown.

There are currently some 200 Indian citizens stranded in Pakistan, including many students, and they have been asked to “stay put” in line with the government’s policy till the end of the nationwide lockdown, the people cited above said.

https://www.hindustantimes.com/indi...i-nationals/story-hB3Hq9b4tU2B4rIRrFbVwK.html
 
I used to be one of his detractors but he is turning out to be the best CM Punjab has seen in decades. No media hype, no nonsense press conference, just quietly and efficiently goes about his business. Not surprised that Punjab has managed to so efficiently manage the corona situation.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">100 bedded field Hospital in Vehari and 80 bedded field hospital in Attock<br><br>These hospitals are being used to isolate <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> positive patients.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabCoronavirusUpdate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabCoronavirusUpdate</a> <a href="https://t.co/qTthus942I">pic.twitter.com/qTthus942I</a></p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1250470126887014406?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">We have almost 70,000 beds capacity now.<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabCoronavirusUpdate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabCoronavirusUpdate</a> <a href="https://t.co/HQN3IGxHKA">https://t.co/HQN3IGxHKA</a></p>— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MashwaniAzhar/status/1250472027699515392?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Sindh reported 340 new Coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours - this is the highest daily rise so far in the province since the outbreak began
 
Pakistan reports highest 24-hour jump in cases at 520

Pakistan reported its highest 24-hour jump in cases at 520, according to the data from the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination.

17 deaths, also the highest single-day total, takes fatalities in country to 124.

5e9808455b5a6.jpg
 
^This is happening due to more testing. So it does not look good if the virus is locally transmitting now.
 
Read news report that the CM of some state in pakistan is saying as many as 300 patients arrived dead at the hospital with covid symptoms but aren't counted in casualties? How bad is the situation and how much cover up is going on guys?
 
AMSS said:
Read news report that the CM of some state in pakistan is saying as many as 300 patients arrived dead at the hospital with covid symptoms but aren't counted in casualties? How bad is the situation and how much cover up is going on guys?
Click to expand...

I wouldn't believe that as the media is very pro active.
 
King-Misbah said:
I very much doubt that as it would be all over media.
Click to expand...

Feel free to doubt to but be sure I am not the cooking up these numbers

The chief minister said 66 news cases of the novel coronavirus were detected in the past day, while a total of 663 tests were conducted, which translates into a positive test rate of around 10pc. Three days ago, on April 11, the CM had sounded alarm when he revealed that 104 out of the 531 tests conducted in the province had turned out positive – a positive rate of 20pc – which he said was among the highest in the world.
Click to expand...

https://www.dawn.com/news/1549130
 
AMSS said:
Read news report that the CM of some state in pakistan is saying as many as 300 patients arrived dead at the hospital with covid symptoms but aren't counted in casualties? How bad is the situation and how much cover up is going on guys?
Click to expand...

That's not quite what the CM said.

Yesterday, he said that there are some cases that they're unable to 100% be sure about but he thought they are likely to be victims of COVID-19. Those were around 15 in number. So he said that the casualties in Sindh may be 55 or so instead of 40.

The report around 300 patients is a news report which has been added above in this thread.

Besides the woman with the fluid-filled lungs, more than 300 such patients have been brought to different public and private hospitals in the past 15 days — all of them either dead on arrival (DOA) or extremely sick with “pneumonia-like symptoms”, who died within hours of their arrival, said health officials.
Click to expand...
 
Abdullah719 said:
That's not quite what the CM said.

Yesterday, he said that there are some cases that they're unable to 100% be sure about but he thought they are likely to be victims of COVID-19. Those were around 15 in number. So he said that the casualties in Sindh may be 55 or so instead of 40.

The report around 300 patients is a news report which has been added above in this thread.
Click to expand...

TBH there was also some charity foundation who help with burial that it has gone up by as much as 50 percent this month than usual so who knows? Sounds like a cover up to me.

I mean, who tests 500 samples a day when you have a positive rate of 15-20 percent?
 
AMSS said:
TBH there was also some charity foundation who help with burial that it has gone up by as much as 50 percent this month than usual so who knows? Sounds like a cover up to me.

I mean, who tests 500 samples a day when you have a positive rate of 15-20 percent?
Click to expand...

Sindh has the capability to do a lot more tests but for some reason, they are testing in very small numbers.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">CM Sindh keep claiming since the last few days = that they are hoping to scale up testing in Sindh<br><br>They have a capacity of ~2000<br><br>But if you look at the trend for the past 10 days .... it seems to hover around ~585<br><br>What going on ? <a href="https://t.co/4nDUaYIGTw">https://t.co/4nDUaYIGTw</a></p>— Awab Alvi (@DrAwab) <a href="https://twitter.com/DrAwab/status/1250318811565154307?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 15, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
https://www.dawn.com/news/1549564

Foundation head Faisal Edhi on Wednesday said that they received total 387 bodies from different areas and hospitals for burial at various graveyards from April 1 to April 13, 2020, as compared to the last year during the same period when the Edhi Foundation buried 230 bodies.
Click to expand...
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Was out around Johar, Karachi. Sindh govt's amazing lockdown sounds so great on tv cuz you don't go out. Everything's open and everyones out, without masks. <a href="https://t.co/HXT7AcdnQH">pic.twitter.com/HXT7AcdnQH</a></p>— Waqas (@waqas_x) <a href="https://twitter.com/waqas_x/status/1250750101217333250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kahan ka lockdown? :facepalm:
 
Navdeep Srivastava said:
Deaths, I don't buy, it will be all over media, some may be but not in large number, about 20 percent it was true, said be Sindh CM , Some body on this very tread posted that Sindh is doing on average 600 test per day ,so I can see the 20percent number
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why dont you "buy" it. Hiding deaths in Pakistan in the numbers we expect will and is not easy.

We expect deaths to rise.
 
41 Pakistanis stranded in India return through Attari-Wagah border

Forty-one Pakistanis stranded in India after the border was closed as a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus have returned to the country through the Attari-Wagah border.

According to a statement from the High Commission of Pakistan in Delhi, the citizens had gone to India on different visas "including visit, pilgrimage and medical and had been stuck in Agra, Delhi and parts of Haryana and Punjab".

There are still some 145 Pakistanis stuck in India, the statement added.
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Was out around Johar, Karachi. Sindh govt's amazing lockdown sounds so great on tv cuz you don't go out. Everything's open and everyones out, without masks. <a href="https://t.co/HXT7AcdnQH">pic.twitter.com/HXT7AcdnQH</a></p>— Waqas (@waqas_x) <a href="https://twitter.com/waqas_x/status/1250750101217333250?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

Kahan ka lockdown? :facepalm:
Click to expand...

Bhutto will save them dont worry.
 
Navdeep Srivastava said:
Do media allow the deaths to be hide ?
Expecting death to rise is rational thinking with more cases coming everyday
Click to expand...

[MENTION=253]the Great Khan[/MENTION] In general Pak has done good, only thing I don't understand why they are not ramping up testing to around 10000 a day, less kit maybe, not sure can you or anybody else canelaborate on this?
 
Testing went up from just under 2000 yesterday to about 6000 today but the number of new cases only increased from 250 odd to 450ish. Encouraging signs
 
Syed1 said:
Testing went up from just under 2000 yesterday to about 6000 today but the number of new cases only increased from 250 odd to 450ish. Encouraging signs
Click to expand...

Under 500 increment is quite encourageing. Pak don't need to get relax.
I heard Pak is lifting lockdown, what strategy they are using?
 
Navdeep Srivastava said:
Under 500 increment is quite encourageing. Pak don't need to get relax.
I heard Pak is lifting lockdown, what strategy they are using?
Click to expand...

Partial lifting of lockdown is taking place with certain industries like construction and export manufacturing have been opened.
 
Punjab enhanced daily testing to 4200, KPK will have 1000+ by next week and Sindh also increased testing to about 3000 per day. Still a long shot from the nationwide daily testing of 25,000-30,000 promised to us by the end of April.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="ur" dir="rtl">الحمدللہ 4 مزید لیبز کی اپ گریڈیشن مکمل ہونے پر پنجاب میں سرکاری سطح پر روزانہ ٹیسٹ کرنے کی صلاحیت 4200 سےزائد ہو چکی ہے<br><br>اس کا فائدہ اٹھاتےہوئے ہم نے اگلےمرحلےمیں لاہور میں 10 ہزار ٹیسٹ کر کے "random testing" شروع کرنی ہےتاکہ عام آبادی میں وائرس کےممکنہ پھیلاؤ کابروقت پتہ چل سکے</p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1250815900615421954?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1. KP expanding <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/coronavirus?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#coronavirus</a> testing: In the last two days, 1188 tests conducted (602 April 14 + 586 April 15) in KP, our two highest counts. In the next week, we intend to sample 1000+ tests per day, and aim to conduct more than 2000 tests per day within two weeks.</p>— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) <a href="https://twitter.com/Jhagra/status/1250693203298332680?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">2874 tests in Sindh in the last 24 hours out of which 340 tested positive. These are the official numbers. Thank u very much <a href="https://t.co/BeeApKn1b6">https://t.co/BeeApKn1b6</a></p>— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) <a href="https://twitter.com/murtazawahab1/status/1250717947917750272?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Around 58 per cent of Pakistan's total coronavirus cases are locally transmitted, data released by the National Command and Operation Centre revealed on Thursday.

During March, when the pandemic began spreading in the country, Pakistan's number of imported coronavirus cases — a large chunk of which came from Iran — was higher than locally transmitted ones.

But the scales began tilting gradually, with imported cases slowing as the government suspended international flights on March 21, and reports of virus patients with no travel history began making the rounds. By April 12, the prime minister's assistant on health, Dr Zafar Mirza told media that around half of Pakistan's total positive cases were infected through local transmission.

Latest figures revealed Thursday showed the ratio of local transmissions had shot up to 58 per cent out of a total 6,505 positive cases as of noon.

Furthermore, Coordinator for National Emergency Centre on Polio Dr Rana Safdar told Dawn.com that the country's polio surveillance system will be used to trace coronavirus cases, as it is the most effective virus detection system in place in the country.

Read more: Punjab has conducted the most Covid-19 tests but other provinces are lagging behind

According to Ministry of National Health Services Spokesperson Sajid Shah, Pakistan conducted 5,540 coronavirus tests on Wednesday. This is the highest number of tests conducted over a 24-hour period in the country. On average, Pakistan conducts 2,500 tests in a day.

Shah said Pakistan's total number of tests stood at 78,979, according to the latest figures available. He further said that as the number of tests conducted rises, so will the number of positive cases.

"In fact, the government's aim is to conduct 25,000 tests daily by the end of April and predictive modelling shows that in that case 1,000 new cases will be reported daily in the country on average," he said.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1549680/58pc-of-pakistans-coronavirus-cases-are-now-locally-transmitted
 
Around 58 per cent of Pakistan's total coronavirus cases are locally transmitted, data released by the National Command and Operation Centre revealed on Thursday.

During March, when the pandemic began spreading in the country, Pakistan's number of imported coronavirus cases — a large chunk of which came from Iran — was higher than locally transmitted ones.

But the scales began tilting gradually, with imported cases slowing as the government suspended international flights on March 21, and reports of virus patients with no travel history began making the rounds. By April 12, the prime minister's assistant on health, Dr Zafar Mirza told media that around half of Pakistan's total positive cases were infected through local transmission.

Latest figures revealed Thursday showed the ratio of local transmissions had shot up to 58 per cent out of a total 6,505 positive cases as of noon.

Furthermore, Coordinator for National Emergency Centre on Polio Dr Rana Safdar told Dawn.com that the country's polio surveillance system will be used to trace coronavirus cases, as it is the most effective virus detection system in place in the country.

Read more: Punjab has conducted the most Covid-19 tests but other provinces are lagging behind

According to Ministry of National Health Services Spokesperson Sajid Shah, Pakistan conducted 5,540 coronavirus tests on Wednesday. This is the highest number of tests conducted over a 24-hour period in the country. On average, Pakistan conducts 2,500 tests in a day.

Shah said Pakistan's total number of tests stood at 78,979, according to the latest figures available. He further said that as the number of tests conducted rises, so will the number of positive cases.

"In fact, the government's aim is to conduct 25,000 tests daily by the end of April and predictive modelling shows that in that case 1,000 new cases will be reported daily in the country on average," he said.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1549680/58pc-of-pakistans-coronavirus-cases-are-now-locally-transmitted
 
Another 80 people recovered in Punjab today

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Punjab's <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> status as on 16th April:<br>Total Tests Conducted: 48,381<br>Positive cases: 3,276<br>Zaireen in quarantines: 701<br>Members of Tableeghi Jama'ats: 1,257<br>Jail prisoners: 91<br>Non-Quarantined cases: 1227<br>Recovered: 630<br>Deaths: 35<br>Critical Patients: 17<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabCoronavirusUpdate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabCoronavirusUpdate</a></p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1250841825834864640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 16, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">I am saddened by the news of the death of countless Pakistanis living & working abroad who have fallen victim to the COVID19. Many died while serving in the frontline of the global war against COVID19. My condolences & prayers go their families.</p>— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) <a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI/status/1251013629329264640?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 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">"Strict <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/lockdown?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#lockdown</a> in <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Sindh?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Sindh</a>". PPP Shikarpur district general secretary and ex-MPA Zulfiqar Kamario and his brother, town committee chairman, attended the wedding of two youth along with a large number of their family members and relatives <a href="https://t.co/RQmjQslcMU">https://t.co/RQmjQslcMU</a></p>— Zia Ur Rehman (@zalmayzia) <a href="https://twitter.com/zalmayzia/status/1251076187901833217?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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25 cases. one death reported in Punjab

Punjab has reported 25 more cases of the coronavirus, according to primary and secondary healthcare department spokesperson Qaiser Asif, taking the tally to 3,301.

He added that another death had also been reported in the province, taking the total to 36.

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Sind have been a disaster. they have the largest number of deaths and the least amount of testing. truly following the west..
 
Sindh reports 209 cases, 2 deaths

Sindh has reported 209 coronavirus cases during the past 24 hours, according to provincial government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab, taking the total to 2,217.

Another two deaths have also been reported, he said, adding that five people have recovered from the disease during the past 24 hours.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">National effort to increase covid testing capacity is producing results. Total tests conducted on march 15 were 472. 11th of april this increased to 2457. On 16th of april 5,540 tests and yesterday 6,264 tests. This is a 13 fold increase in 1 month. Need to continue scaling up!</p>— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1251072295696728070?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Average daily covid positive cases reported in last 2 days has been 509 vs avg of 281 from april 10 to 15. This is due to scaling up of testing. last 2 days avg of 5,892 tests vs avg of 2,918 tests apr 10 to 15. Positive results last 2 days were 8.6% vs 9.6% from apr 10 to 15</p>— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1251077576375836672?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">The following information is relevant to assess the situation of <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDー19</a> in Sindh as of 17th April at 8 AM:<br><br>Total Tests 21272 (today 2372)<br>Positive Cases 2217 (today 209)<br>Recovered Cases 581<br>Deaths 47<br><br>In the last 24 hours, 5 people have recovered from corona in Sindh</p>— SenatorMurtaza Wahab (@murtazawahab1) <a href="https://twitter.com/murtazawahab1/status/1251062185264066561?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Better rate of testing in Sindh in the last couple of days.
 
A step increase in daily testing rate, but new positive cases is around the same range. This is for those people (read as experts) predicting 15-20k active cases in Pakistan 2 weeks back and saying we aren't testing enough.
 
Syed1 said:
A step increase in daily testing rate, but new positive cases is around the same range. This is for those people (read as experts) predicting 15-20k active cases in Pakistan 2 weeks back and saying we aren't testing enough.
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Which people are tested? Is it random testing or testing those that have the symptons/been in touch with people who had corona. Thanks
 
King-Misbah said:
Which people are tested? Is it random testing or testing those that have the symptons/been in touch with people who had corona. Thanks
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I think for now they are testing 'contacts' of positive cases, or other suspected cases. However, Punjab government is starting random testing from next week in Lahore. They have excess testing capacity hence going to random testing. Inshallah our national testing capacity is expected to rise to 25-30k daily by end of April and will allow more random testing.
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our value for profit over human life is driving our response to a health crisis. the federal government has its priorities wrong and the whole country could suffer as a result. Support our health care system. Support our laborers. Support those who need it most. 2/2</p>— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1251127260888928258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our value for profit over human life is driving our response to a health crisis. the federal government has its priorities wrong and the whole country could suffer as a result. Support our health care system. Support our laborers. Support those who need it most. 2/2</p>— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1251127260888928258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Click to expand...

EVzt9auWsAI97tM.jpg
 
Abdullah719 said:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Our value for profit over human life is driving our response to a health crisis. the federal government has its priorities wrong and the whole country could suffer as a result. Support our health care system. Support our laborers. Support those who need it most. 2/2</p>— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) <a href="https://twitter.com/BBhuttoZardari/status/1251127260888928258?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Govt of Punjab has finalised financial package for frontline workers fighting <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a><br><br>Frontline workers = Healthcare Professionals (Doctors, Nurses, Paramedics, Janitorial Staff), Rescue, Police or any other<br><br>Package:<br>▪ Bonus: 1 Month Salary<br>▪ Shaheed Package: 4 to 8 Million</p>— Azhar (@MashwaniAzhar) <a href="https://twitter.com/MashwaniAzhar/status/1251101584236457984?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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ISLAMABAD: The federal government on Friday approved an ordinance against hoarding basic food items and goods, a few months after the sugar and wheat crises caused prices of the basic food items to skyrockets across the country.

The prime minister presided over a meeting focused on curbing smuggling and hoarding of basic food items. As per the ordinance, those found guilty of hoarding will be slapped with a three-year imprisonment sentence and a heavy fine.

The prime minister directed the government to seek help from intelligence agencies in identifying smugglers and hoarders. During the meeting, he said that stern action against smugglers and hoarders was necessary as these crimes ultimately resulted in the poor paying a heavy price.

During the meeting, the prime minister reportedly said that stern action against hoarding and profiteering was unavoidable as the offences damaged the country's economy.

He called on the government to appoint honest and trustworthy officers to keep in check hoarding and similar offences. PM Imran asked the government to monitor the situation regarding food prices on a daily basis and ensure no administrative hurdles thwarted the government from performing its duties.

PM Imran has, on several occasions in the past, warned that the government will take strict action against those found involved in profiteering and hoarding.

"Those who want to make money from the hunger of the poor, the state will take strict action against you. The state will make an example out of you," he had said last month during his address to the nation.

Background of the sugar, wheat crises

In January, prices of wheat surged across the country after it emerged that the staple food's quantity had decreased significantly in markets across the country.

The News had reported that the wheat crisis originated in Sindh and then spread to other provinces. It said that corruption probes against officials in the Sindh government discouraged many in the province from the procurement of wheat that would otherwise have increased existing surplus wheat stock. At one point, the reserve stock was as low as 0.2 million tons.

The problem was exacerbated by a decision to export 200,000 to 400,000 tons of wheat, keeping in view surplus stocks on the basis of estimates presented by the Ministry of National Food Security and Research, but the actual exports of wheat crossed 640,000 tons.

Shortly after the wheat crisis ended, sugar prices went up as the product was found scarce in short supply in markets across the country. Hoarding and an artificial increase in the prices of the commodity were cited as the main reasons for the surge in the prices of the product.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/283411-government-approves-ordinance-against-hoarding-of-goods
 
Local transmission cases rising in ‘katchi abadis’, hotspots to be closed: Sindh CM

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has said virus hotpsots in the city will be closed amid a rising number of coronavirus cases especially among residents of katchi abadis (slums).

The chief minister said that 77 of the 209 cases reported today are of people who live in katchi abadis. Shah also gave the district-wise breakdown of the cases, according to which:

District South has 30 cases detected from Lyari, Kharadar, Lee Markeet. Burns Road, Kalapul, Shoe Market, Saddar and Garden areas
District East has 16 cases detected from the areas of Gulbahar, Johar, Sharif Colony, Khalil Colony and KECHS
District Korangi has six cases detected from Nasir Colony, Shareef Colony, Faisal Colony, and PIA Society
District Malir has six cases located in Landhi and Gulshan-e-Hadeed
District West has eight cases which are located in the areas of Afghan Basti, Northern Bypass and Baldia
District Central has 11 cases
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">First corona patient discharged from Field Hospital Expo Centre Karachi <a href="https://t.co/budf1TFUjS">pic.twitter.com/budf1TFUjS</a></p>— Commissioner Karachi (@CommissionerKhi) <a href="https://twitter.com/CommissionerKhi/status/1251153729400651778?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote>
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42 more people recovered in Punjab. Countrywide we are seeing about 100-150 people recovering everyday. Once or twice we had step increases of 500+ recovered in a day. About 1800 of the 7400 cases have recovered, which is a healthy ratio Inshallah it keeps growing.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> stats as on 17-04-2020:<br><br>Tests conducted so far: 52,478<br>Confirmed Cases: 3,391<br>Non-Quarantined cases: 1,247<br>Quarantined: <br> Zaireen: 701<br> Tableeghi Jama'ats: 1352<br> Jails: 91<br>Recoveries: 672<br>Death: 37<br>Critical: 14<a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PunjabCoronavirusUpdate?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PunjabCoronavirusUpdate</a></p>— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) <a href="https://twitter.com/UsmanAKBuzdar/status/1251214119866437633?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 17, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
KARACHI: In a bid to stem the rapid spread of the novel coronavirus, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani has made it mandatory for everyone to wear face masks before going out, The News reported on Saturday.

According to a notification issued by the Commissioner Office, all the activities permitted as the city prepares to ease a virus lockdown will take place under certain guidelines in pursuance of the directives issued by the Sindh home department.

“Face masks are mandatory for all the people coming out of their houses for a valid reason or those who are exempted from the lockdown," read the notification, explaining that the face masks shall cover the nose, mouth and chin.

Sanitising and cleaning hands, according to the order, will be strictly ensured after every activity. Every employee or worker has to be examined before entering the workplace for symptoms of flu, cough or fever, and in case anyone is found having such symptoms, he or she will be referred to a hospital immediately and not allowed to enter the workplace.

The workplaces are supposed to be disinfected frequently, the notification reads. “Social distancing will be ensured at every workplace," it adds.

Additionally, the employers should ensure availability of masks, sanitisers and soaps for their employees at work. The biometric machines, according to the order, are mandatorily supposed to be disinfected after every use, read the directives.

As for the timings of the businesses, the order says that they will be permitted to operate as per the timings specified by the home department.

Restaurants are allowed to open only for home deliveries from 8am to 5pm. “Dining in of any sort is not allowed,” the directives specify. Tandoors and bakeries have also been allowed to operate between 8am and 5pm.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/283528-karachi-commissioner-says-wearing-masks-when-leaving-home-is-must
 
Two Pakistani nationals test positive for coronavirus on return from India

Provincial health authorities have confirmed that two Pakistani nationals, who had recently returned from India, have tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

The two women were among a group of 41 Pakistani nationals who returned to the country via the Wagah border crossing on Thursday. The border was opened briefly for the repatriation of Pakistani nationals stranded in India.

Upon their return, 34 people were quarantined at Lahore’s Expo Centre and seven were kept at the Sheikh Zaid Hospital.

Test results of the other 39 individuals have returned negative, however, they would still be kept in quarantine as a precautionary measure.

Provincial authorities have also decided to get immigration and customs officials tested for Covid-19 as they had cleared the two individuals.

The driver of the bus, which had transported the citizens will also be tested.

In March, three Pakistani citizens, returning from India, had tested positive for coronavirus. They had gone to India for a medical check-up.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/220102...onals-test-positive-coronavirus-return-india/
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">New &#55356;&#56812;&#55356;&#56807;support for &#55356;&#56821;&#55356;&#56816; response to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Covid_19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Covid_19</a> - mushkil waqt mein dost hi hamara saath dehte hain <a href="https://t.co/eB4R5skD4B">pic.twitter.com/eB4R5skD4B</a></p>— Christian Turner (@CTurnerFCO) <a href="https://twitter.com/CTurnerFCO/status/1251471737352589312?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Covid-19 testing per capita in Pakistan continues to ramp up faster than other populous developing countries like Indonesia, India, Bangladesh and Mexico <a href="https://t.co/1dpdmpEW2Y">pic.twitter.com/1dpdmpEW2Y</a></p>— Aatif Awan (@aatif_awan) <a href="https://twitter.com/aatif_awan/status/1251408131558723584?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 18, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
 
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that if levels of poverty in Pakistan increased by the time it has defeated the coronavirus, the country will have lost the overall war.

"Our greatest challenge is to ensure that those suffering from economic distress right now do not fall further below the poverty line. Because if they do and our poverty rises by the time we have defeated this virus, we will have lost the war," the premier remarked at a press briefing alongside ministers and his special assistants.

He said that while the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan is currently lower than projected, the country could still face "difficulties" from May 15. He advised people to be careful going forward.

"Our initial projections showed that we would have 50,000 cases by April 25. By Allah's grace, that's not the case. Our new projections suggest that we could now have 12,000 to 15,000 coronavirus patients by next week. In other words, the pressure we expected in our hospitals earlier would now be felt next month," he warned.

Prime Minister Imran added that the government is currently in the process of procuring ventilators and personal protective equipment to prepare for the potential spike in cases and deaths next month.

He credited the country's lower number of confirmed Covid-19 cases than previously projected to timely actions by the government.

"We acted promptly in March when we only had a few cases. Sindh enforced a stricter lockdown, we quarantined pilgrims from Iran at Taftan border and we screened passengers at the airport. So you see, we're now reaping benefits of quick decision making."

He added that the government will now "gradually start reopening the economy, starting from the construction sector".

Explaining his decision to prioritise the reopening of the construction sector, Imran said that his government "opted to reopen the construction industry because this industry provides countless jobs to our people".

The prime minister also requested the police forces of the country to be gentle with people while enforcing lockdown measures.

"Be gentle, I understand that there's a lot of pressure on you (police). But we can't enforce a lockdown if we're strict with our people. If people do not get rations, there is no way they will not come out on the streets and our efforts to control the virus will fail. Harsh measures are unlikely to work," he cautioned.

The premier also announced that the government will soon issue an ordinance to crack down on smuggling. He issued a warning to hoarders once again, saying the government will take strict action against them. "We will go directly after owners of stores that are hoarding items. We will be extremely harsh with you," he warned.

Prime Minister Imran also urged his countrymen to follow the directives issued by President Dr Arif Alvi regarding Ramazan.

"Today Dr Alvi met ulema and issued directives for the holy month of Ramazan. Please follow these directives because following them is in your interest," he advised.

PM Imran rubbishes reports of government hiding casualties
The prime minister also questioned the spread of "fake news" regarding a higher number of Covid-19 deaths than officially reported in Sindh, calling the news "irresponsible". He rejected the "baseless" reports and questioned the idea that a government would ever hide casualties of its own people.

Dr Faisal Sultan, the prime minister's focal person on coronavirus, added that the government was investigating suspected deaths due to Covid-19 in Karachi. "Some 15 of the 300 deaths that were reported in Karachi are suspected to be due to coronavirus. But we are still investigating the matter and will not issue any further comment on it," he said.

Federal Minister for Industries Hammad Azhar, meanwhile, announced that the government will introduce a scheme for payment of electricity bills on instalments, saying that this facility will primarily benefit small businesses and shop owners.

Azhar said the government will bring forth an "economic programme for those who have lost their jobs" amid lockdowns enforced to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

The minister revealed that there were 10 per cent more stocks of food items in utility stores across the country as compared to Ramazan of last year.

In his remarks, Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar warned that even though the country's case numbers are currently lower than previously projected, the situation is still "uncertain".

He said this was why testing, tracing and quarantining was necessary. "We need to increase our testing capacity at once. Our aim is to conduct 25,000 tests daily by the month's end."

Explaining what testing, tracing and quarantining would entail, Umar said that the government would first aim to conduct mass testing followed by constituting a system of extensive contact tracing whereby infected patients and all those who came in contact with them are quarantined.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf, meanwhile, thanked overseas Pakistanis for their "patience", assuring them that the government is making arrangements to repatriate them soon.

"We are trying to increase our quarantine and testing facilities so that we can bring [overseas Pakistanis] back as soon as possible. Our target is to be able to bring back up to 7,500 people every week," he revealed.

He added that the government will also grant permission to commercial airlines to bring back Pakistanis stranded abroad.

"Some of our students whose visas have expired in the US, Malaysia and Australia have been granted permission to return via commercial airlines. Rest assured we will follow our usual protocol of testing and quarantining every individual who is returning from abroad," Yusuf concluded.

https://www.dawn.com/news/1550271/w...-the-time-we-defeat-coronavirus-says-pm-imran
 
Testing is hitting 7000 tests a day but new cases is holding steady or falling. Last 3-4 days had an average of 450-500 cases, today to date it's 157.

24% of all patients have recovered. We got this Inshallah
 
Syed1 said:
Testing is hitting 7000 tests a day but new cases is holding steady or falling. Last 3-4 days had an average of 450-500 cases, today to date it's 157.

24% of all patients have recovered. We got this Inshallah
Click to expand...

Yeah that's the trend you want to see.
Tests up and new cases down. That when you flaltten the curve.

Today is probably an outlier but hopefully you are right.
 
Syed1 said:
Testing is hitting 7000 tests a day but new cases is holding steady or falling. Last 3-4 days had an average of 450-500 cases, today to date it's 157.

24% of all patients have recovered. We got this Inshallah
Click to expand...

Syed bhai, what testing figures is the govt aiming for mid May? Do you know? We should aim for 100ks a test a day.
 
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