Coronavirus in Pakistan

[MenInG]

KARACHI: Sindh government Spokesman Murtaza Wahab said on Tuesday that after Ramadan and ease in lockdown, the number of female coronavirus patients rose significantly in the province.

The Sindh government spokesman was addressing a press conference, along with provincial minister Nasir Hussain Shah. The Sindh government officials expressed concern over the rise in number of cases.

Wahab said that earlier the rate of infection was higher in men, but now women and children are also getting infected rapidly.

He said that despite closing the schools since January 26, around 1,148 children under the age of 10 have been infected so far.

Wahab said he observed several women not wearing masks at public places, urging them to either use their dupattas or a handkerchief if they don’t have a mask to cover their faces.

Nasir Shah said that Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has taken notice of the incidents that occurred at Jinnah and Civil hospital.

He said that untoward incidents are occurring at the hospitals, and the number of cases are rising as well, requesting people to not misbehave with the medical staff.

Shah said that upon PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto’s directives, a taskforce was made on February 26 to deal with the situation due to the pandemic.

The minister said that everything cannot be shutdown in the province in order to sustain livelihoods but preventive measures can be adopted.

On Tuesday, Sindh recorded more than 31,000 cases and above 500 deaths.

 

[Firebat]

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Human Settlement Haji Ghulam Murtaza Baloch passed away on Tuesday after battling coronavirus, provincial government spokesman Murtaza Wahab said.

Announcing the sad news on twitter, Wahab said, "he was a genuine political worker & a very polite and humble human being. May Allah SWT bless his soul.”

Baloch is the second lawmaker in Pakistan who have died from COVID-19 after Shaheen Raza, who succumbed to coronavirus last month. She was a PTI lawmaker in the Punjab Assembly.

Senior PPP leader and Senator Maula Bux Chandio has also tested positive for coronavirus after which he went into self-isolation.

"My wife and son have also tested positive for the virus," Chandio said, adding: "I am spending time reading books."

Furthermore, he said that he was "fine".

Several high-ranking government functionaries including federal minister Shehryar Afridi, Speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail and provincial minister Saeed Ghani were also tested positive for COVID-19.

Earlier today, MNA Munir Orakzai died of cardiac arrest just weeks after recovering from COVID-19.

 

[finalfantasy7]

record highest new cases today -over 3900- 70+deaths- we will over take by this thursday/friday .

and were still testing at a really low rate - hasn't increased now in 3weeks

 

[Slog]

It’s gotten out of control and the government wants to reopen tourism.

Imran Khan was dealt a bad hand to be the PM when this crisis happened but he has done an absolutely terrible job.

The messaging has been all over the place. Initially he said it is just like a flu when all evidence said it clearly wasn’t. Then there was a lockdown and then out of nowhere it was relaxed. And now he wants to reopen tourism when the cases and death rate is seeing new highs everyday despite testing remaining at low levels.

Yes PML-N and PPP would have likely done an equally terrible job but that is no justification and not is it an excuse for PTI’s incompetence in this matter.

So do not deflect by pointing out how other options are also bad because then we might as well have stuck with them.

 

[pakistani pride]

your in hong kong..i wouldnt worry.

As for Pakistan. There is no choice whatsoever. You can talk about locking down the country for months. Then what? You cant lockdown for more than three months. The country would collapse economcially if there is a prolonged lockdown. That is a fact.

So what do you do? you take your chances with the virus. End of. You cannot do anything else.

Instead of blaming this govt you should question the state of the economy. The govt cant feed everyone to ensure a prolonged lockdown. It cant do it. This is the reality.

People just dont understand. Even in the West with smaller populations a lockdown is very tough. A lockdown in Pak is not possible. Its the reality.

Each single day 8.000 people die in Pakistan. Its time to be realistic.

 

[The Viper]

Balochistan reports 121 cases, 2 deaths

Balochistan has reported 121 new Covid-19 cases, according to the provincial health department's report dated June 1, taking the tally to 4,514.

Two more deaths were also reported, taking the death toll to 49.

 

[saeedhk]

Imran Khan’s incompetency is at full display!

 

[161]

Imran Khan’s incompetency is at full display!

Lockdown would have worked if the government stuck with it.

Here in NY the Covid outbreak was the worst in the world now we are down to just a few hundred people hospitalized.

A little bit of pain in the short term saved long term devastation but in Pakistan people couldn't even sacrifice one eid even when faced with the deadliest pandemic in almost a century !

 

[Slog]

People just dont understand. Even in the West with smaller populations a lockdown is very tough. A lockdown in Pak is not possible. Its the reality.

Each single day 8.000 people die in Pakistan. Its time to be realistic.

lockdown works

south korea, nyc etc all improved after lockdown

nyc was having 650+ deaths for many days but now less than 100 per day for 10 days straight and everyday its declining, there was a very strict lockdown

 

[Syed1]

It’s gotten out of control and the government wants to reopen tourism.

Imran Khan was dealt a bad hand to be the PM when this crisis happened but he has done an absolutely terrible job.

The messaging has been all over the place. Initially he said it is just like a flu when all evidence said it clearly wasn’t. Then there was a lockdown and then out of nowhere it was relaxed. And now he wants to reopen tourism when the cases and death rate is seeing new highs everyday despite testing remaining at low levels.

Yes PML-N and PPP would have likely done an equally terrible job but that is no justification and not is it an excuse for PTI’s incompetence in this matter.

So do not deflect by pointing out how other options are also bad because then we might as well have stuck with them.

Yes Imran Khan has done so bad that is why Pakistan's death rate is 5-20 times less than even countries with same or smaller population sizes.


Also last time I checked the Ehsaas program issued Rs. 12,000 to 15 million poor people. It is a drop in the ocean but this is not seen any where else in the developing world. You seem to have ran away from that thread when I exposed your stupid wrist slitting.


Woke liberal crowd is never happy. You yourself are studying abroad on your second degree so obviously you are well to do. Have no idea what the average Pakistani has to go through.


Also you seem to keep harping about tourism tourism, if you had actually listened to the address rather than rely on woke liberal twitter accounts you would have heard his justification that majority of the poor folks up north earn during the summer months through tourism and live off it rest of the year. Those people aren't lucky enough to study expensive degrees in the US.

 

[Slog]

Yes Imran Khan has done so bad that is why Pakistan's death rate is 5-20 times less than even countries with same or smaller population sizes.


Also last time I checked the Ehsaas program issued Rs. 12,000 to 15 million poor people. It is a drop in the ocean but this is not seen any where else in the developing world. You seem to have ran away from that thread when I exposed your stupid wrist slitting.


Woke liberal crowd is never happy. You yourself are studying abroad on your second degree so obviously you are well to do. Have no idea what the average Pakistani has to go through.


Also you seem to keep harping about tourism tourism, if you had actually listened to the address rather than rely on woke liberal twitter accounts you would have heard his justification that majority of the poor folks up north earn during the summer months through tourism and live off it rest of the year. Those people aren't lucky enough to study expensive degrees in the US.

I am also a supporter of Imran khan and voted got PTI which I’m not sure of you got to do for Canada so there’s no need to get personal.

Just because other countries have it worse doesn’t mean Pakistanis should be happy. The simple fact is that since the bungled easing of lockdown happened in Pakistan, the corona virus situation in Pakistan is getting out of control. Explain the following chart please:



And it’s getting worse. Rather than compare with different continents where the strain is likely worse, let’s see the comparison within the region. The spike is not a coincidence considering the direct correlation with ramzan end

The biggest problem I have is with the messaging. Imran khan said it’s like a flu, nothing more and this was when 700+ people a day were dying in multiple countries. This was misleading the public and maybe if the seriousness was explained to the populace, Pakistanis may have been more serious.

Just because I support Imran khan and PTI, doesn’t mean I need to be a blind bakht

 

[Savak]

I blame the federal government for not giving the police and the army the full and complete authority to impose bankrupting fines, jailing people who are blatantly violating social distancing rules. For this there is no excuse. Yes the lockdown needed to be lifted but that does not mean an ignorant public should have been given the full licence to do as they like. People who blatantly violate the social distancing guidelines like not wearing a mask, no maintaining social distancing in public, not washing their hands or using the sanitizer, need to be beaten the **** out off.

I blame Imran Khan for naively trusting the nation to do the right thing voluntarily and responsibly and not empowering the police and the army

 

[Savak]

lockdown works

south korea, nyc etc all improved after lockdown

nyc was having 650+ deaths for many days but now less than 100 per day for 10 days straight and everyday its declining, there was a very strict lockdown

You have not even seen the economic catastrophy. People's views about the lockdown will change once they get laid off and their ability to pay bills get affected. People have no empathy or concern for the daily wagers, resteraunt owners and businesses that can't be run from home.

 

[Savak]

Scientists, medical researchers have been given billions and trillions of dollars. If anything, I find it highly disgraceful that they have been unable to find a cure as of now

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Amid rising fears that a large number of people can be asymptomatic after over 16,000 new cases of coronavirus emerged during the last week only, the government has decided to hold a seroepidemiological survey to know what percentage of the population has already been infected.

The pilot study, which will be completed in two to three weeks, will be conducted in the federal capital before the launch of a nationwide study by mid-June to get the data from across the country.

The main objective of the survey is to evaluate risk factor for Covid-19 infection by comparing the exposures among infected and non-infected persons. The survey will also help the healthcare institutions to know and understand about the actual prevalence of Covid-19. The pilot study will provide estimation about the number of cases in different areas of Islamabad.

Health Services Academy (HSA) Vice Chancellor Dr Asad Hafeez, while talking to Dawn, said that currently targeting testing was being done across the country due to which only ‘incidences’ were being reported such as persons, having complaints or symptoms of Covid-19, were being tested.

“However during survey different segments of the society will be tested to know the prevalence of the disease. Statistical samples will be collected and both polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and antibodies tests will be held to know that how many persons have been infected,” he said.

Dr Hafeez said the study would make it possible for the authorities to calculate percentage of the infected population and identify the hotspots. “By mid-June simultaneously a similar national-level study will be started to ascertain the situation across the country,” he said.

A senior official of the National Institute of Health (NIH), requesting not to be quoted, said the study was being held to observe the tendency of disease in the general population.

“There is a possibility that a large number of people would be asymptomatic and were not being detected as symptoms are not developed in them. We have divided the federal capital into 44 zones and samples will be collected from 2,750 persons in the federal capital. Both the PCR and antibodies tests will be held to know that if people have recovered from the disease without developing the symptoms,” he said.

While asymptomatic patients of Covid-19 don’t show any symptom of the disease, antibodies tests confirm whether a person was infected with the virus or not.

The NIH official said the methodology being used for the study was called ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) which is a technique designed for detecting and quantifying peptides, proteins, antibodies and hormones.

“Because of the study we will be able to estimate that how many people were infected in the federal capital which has population of 2.2 million. After that we will be able to get the countrywide estimated number which is called denominator population. Despite that it has been decided to hold a national level study to know which parts of the country are the most infected,” he said.

According to media reports, a summary sent to Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar had estimated 670,000 persons could be infected by the Covid-19 in Lahore alone.

Meanwhile, according to an official statement, the NIH through its Field Epidemiology and Laboratory Training Program in collaboration with Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) and Health Services Academy (HSA) has started “Seroepi*demiological Survey for Covid-19”.

Before the initiation of the survey, the NIH conducted a training session of field interviewers and technicians to conduct the survey.

On this occasion, NIH Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram elaborated that through the survey, the Ministry of National Health Services will be able to determine the extent of infection in the general population and calculation of age-specific attack rates to identify the fraction of asym*ptomatic or subclinical infections.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan provincial minister dies from coronavirus

Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, the Sindh provincial minister for human settlement, has died after contracting the novel coronavirus.

Cases in the South Asian country have been spiking as the government has lifted restrictions on public gatherings and businesses.

On Tuesday, the country saw its highest single-day spike in cases for the second consecutive day, with 4,065 new cases taking the country's tally to 80,463.

 

[MenInG]

Punjab's tally crosses 29,000 after more than 1,000 cases reported for third straight day

Punjab's Primary and Secondary Health Department has reported more than 1,000 new coronavirus cases for the third straight day, taking its tally over 29,000.

According to the department, 1,639 cases were confirmed in the last 24 hours, taking the provincial total to 29,489.

It also reported 30 additional deaths, taking the total fatalities to 570.

A statement from the department said that 7,110 people have recovered from the virus while 252,469 tests have been conducted so far.

 

[MenInG]

The alarming trend of coronavirus cases surging across Pakistan continued as a record number of 4,131 new coronavirus cases emerged across the country and 67 deaths were reported over the last 24 hours, on Wednesday.

The latest surge in COVID-19 cases takes the nation-wide tally to 80,463 while the death toll has risen to 1,688. According to statistics provided by NCOC, Pakistan has broken its previous record number of new COVID-19 cases reported over 24 hours yesterday which was 3,938.

Earlier on Sunday, Pakistan reported its most number of deaths during 24 hours with 88 new fatalities, however, given the swelling number of coronavirus cases, doctors and health experts have warned that the infection is likely to further spread unless a strict lockdown is not imposed.


Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a live televised address, had apprised the nation on the decisions made regarding the lockdown in Pakistan to contain the novel coronavirus during the National Coordination Committee (NCC) meeting held on Monday.

"Since day one when we got to know that the coronavirus had started spreading in Pakistan, we imposed a lockdown following a national security committee meeting," he had said.

"We observed the conditions in the Chinese city of Wuhan and in Europe when the virus started spreading and we were seeing how the world was responding. But at that time, when we had discussions and meetings, I was very clear on the path Pakistan had to take.

"Pakistan's situation is different than that in China or Europe," he had said, noting that he had earlier informed the nation that 25% of the country's population was below the poverty line, which "means that nearly 50 million people in our country do not eat two full meals a day".

PM Imran had said doctors, elite, and the poor all had diverse opinions but it was the downtrodden ones of the society who did not have a voice.

"But in hindsight, I should not have stopped businesses and construction because we had to balance it. Coronavirus is not going away until a vaccine is not formulated. We have to live with it," he had noted.

PM Imran had also mentioned that the government had prepared a 'negative list' of sectors that would remain shut down but "we have opened everything else". The list, he added, "will be shared later in the day as a debate is being held over the resumption of tourism".

https://www.geo.tv/latest/291216-pa...-19-cases-over-24-hours-as-4131-test-positive

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Developed coronavirus symptoms 2days back,got tested promptly &it came positive.Already in self-quarantine at home.The disease is real & it is no shame to contract it, report it, treat it rightly.Let’s keep others safe.Let’s all stay safe& fight it out IA.Prayers needed by u all.</p>— Gharidah Farooqi (@GFarooqi) <a href="https://twitter.com/GFarooqi/status/1268080582602510337?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[the Great Khan]

Scientists, medical researchers have been given billions and trillions of dollars. If anything, I find it highly disgraceful that they have been unable to find a cure as of now

from what i read its not the cure itself but the testing that is taking time. They know enough about the disease now but any treatment needs to be tested properly. Otherwise you could create further problems.

A vaccine does exist but again they are running trials..then its production and distribution will take some time.

Also it may not even work. Hence IK's comment about having to live with it. Many scientists have said it may never be cured and it could petre out or we live with it and overtime its effects become less severe

 

[saeedhk]

your in hong kong..i wouldnt worry.

As for Pakistan. There is no choice whatsoever. You can talk about locking down the country for months. Then what? You cant lockdown for more than three months. The country would collapse economcially if there is a prolonged lockdown. That is a fact.

So what do you do? you take your chances with the virus. End of. You cannot do anything else.

Instead of blaming this govt you should question the state of the economy. The govt cant feed everyone to ensure a prolonged lockdown. It cant do it. This is the reality.

He is a leader so he needs to take strong decisions. If he feels we cannot have a lockdown, then he should have made wearing masks mandatory. Totally inept!

 

[saeedhk]

As I have said numerous times before, the hobby of Pakistanis is to look for conspiracy theories and it is happening again!

Religious clerics are saying that coronavirus is a conspiracy by the West to stop Muslim prayers!And, most Pakistanis are buying such absurd claims!

Just today, Kokab Norani, a top religous figure, said that coronavirus is a conspiracy by the Jews to control human beings!

Imran Khan has really disappointed me not because he failed to jumpstart the economy but because he has failed to take on extremists!

Be it Asia Bibi’s case, mosque closure during coronavirus to Eid moon-sighting to Lal Masjid’s thuggery and to religious leaders spreading hate and misinformation every day, he has always caved in!

If it was any other country, 80% of our religious leaders would be behind bars for their extremist thoughts!!


There is no hope!

 

[the Great Khan]

He is a leader so he needs to take strong decisions. If he feels we cannot have a lockdown, then he should have made wearing masks mandatory. Totally inept!

masks wont stop it. In the UK we have over a 1000 deaths a week and masks are not mandatory.

You keep saying he should have continued the lockdown. So lets take this scenario and run with it. lets say he did a full lockdown. That means curfews for three to six months.If you've lived in karachi you know what a curfew can do. So lets say for 6 months from feb till July ish its a full lockdown. No industry, no shops, no construction, no nothing.

1) How do you feed the people who rely on the industry that has been shut
2) what do you do when you raise the lockdown and the virus increases anyway
3)How do you deal with the inevitable economic fallout and the lack of revenue recieved by the govt as a result of a shutdown
4) If peope cant earn any money what do they do? starve or just ignore the govt anyway and start to open their shops? then what do you do? shoot the people? you cant fine them because they have no money
5) 25 million people in the country live below the poverty line. Do you decide to allow them to die of starvation?
6) and in the process do you throw another 50 million into the same bracket?

I would like to know what you would do to ensure this wouldnt happen.

Finally its all well and good to say "well India did it" may I remind you that our economy is minuscule compared to theirs and we are bankrupt. In spite of this, IK has initiated the only known full on welfare programme in the history of Pakistan. he has laid the ground work for a national health service and a social services net.

The choice is simple for the people: get busy living or get busy dieing. Covid isnt going anywhere.

 

[the Great Khan]

As I have said numerous times before, the hobby of Pakistanis is to look for conspiracy theories and it is happening again!

Religious clerics are saying that coronavirus is a conspiracy by the West to stop Muslim prayers!And, most Pakistanis are buying such absurd claims!

Just today, Kokab Norani, a top religous figure, said that coronavirus is a conspiracy by the Jews to control human beings!

Imran Khan has really disappointed me not because he failed to jumpstart the economy but because he has failed to take on extremists!

Be it Asia Bibi’s case, mosque closure during coronavirus to Eid moon-sighting to Lal Masjid’s thuggery and to religious leaders spreading hate and misinformation every day, he has always caved in!

If it was any other country, 80% of our religious leaders would be behind bars for their extremist thoughts!!


There is no hope!

if there is no hope then you dont need to worry about IK..worry about yourself. Pakistan will come out stronger from this and hope endures.

 

[the Great Khan]

He is a leader so he needs to take strong decisions. If he feels we cannot have a lockdown, then he should have made wearing masks mandatory. Totally inept!

he has taken a strong decision. He has eased the lockdown when people like you and others have said dont. That takes cahoonas especially Knowing people may die. You think its easy leading?

 

[saeedhk]

masks wont stop it. In the UK we have over a 1000 deaths a week and masks are not mandatory.

You keep saying he should have continued the lockdown. So lets take this scenario and run with it. lets say he did a full lockdown. That means curfews for three to six months.If you've lived in karachi you know what a curfew can do. So lets say for 6 months from feb till July ish its a full lockdown. No industry, no shops, no construction, no nothing.

1) How do you feed the people who rely on the industry that has been shut
2) what do you do when you raise the lockdown and the virus increases anyway
3)How do you deal with the inevitable economic fallout and the lack of revenue recieved by the govt as a result of a shutdown
4) If peope cant earn any money what do they do? starve or just ignore the govt anyway and start to open their shops? then what do you do? shoot the people? you cant fine them because they have no money
5) 25 million people in the country live below the poverty line. Do you decide to allow them to die of starvation?
6) and in the process do you throw another 50 million into the same bracket?

I would like to know what you would do to ensure this wouldnt happen.

Finally its all well and good to say "well India did it" may I remind you that our economy is minuscule compared to theirs and we are bankrupt. In spite of this, IK has initiated the only known full on welfare programme in the history of Pakistan. he has laid the ground work for a national health service and a social services net.

The choice is simple for the people: get busy living or get busy dieing. Covid isnt going anywhere.

Who said masks are ineffective? HK is a prime example. Here, 100% people wear a mask and that is the reason we have just had 1100 cases with just three deaths despite being a part of China!


The UK is a bad example! Its response to COVID-19 would put Somalia to shame!


Either have a lockdown or make people observe social distancing and wear masks! No other way!!The choice is yours!

 

[saeedhk]

if there is no hope then you dont need to worry about IK..worry about yourself. Pakistan will come out stronger from this and hope endures.

What a joke! Three days ago, HK government banned Pakistanis from entering the city because they were bringing in the virus and you are saying Pakistan will come out stronger! More humiliation for Pakistan and its people!

In the last flight that arrived from Pakistan,16 out of 83 Pakistanis tested positive!!! That is 20%!

Please don’t live in your own bubble!

 

[saeedhk]

he has taken a strong decision. He has eased the lockdown when people like you and others have said dont. That takes cahoonas especially Knowing people may die. You think its easy leading?

It is not easy leading but he chose this job so the bucks stops at him!I am probably a bigger supporter of the PTI than you but IK has been a massive letdown!

 

[the Great Khan]

What a joke! Three days ago, HK government banned Pakistanis from entering the city because they were bringing in the virus and you are saying Pakistan will come out stronger! More humiliation for Pakistan and its people!

In the last flight that arrived from Pakistan,16 out of 83 Pakistanis tested positive!!! That is 20%!

Please don’t live in your own bubble!

yes..and? you need to answer my questions above. What do you do? Put yourself in the PM's seat and tell us.

 

[the Great Khan]

It is not easy leading but he chose this job so the bucks stops at him!I am probably a bigger supporter of the PTI than you but IK has been a massive letdown!

only because he didnt do what you think he should.

 

[saeedhk]

yes..and? you need to answer my questions above. What do you do? Put yourself in the PM's seat and tell us.

Either one of the options!

 

[saeedhk]

only because he didnt do what you think he should.

Because he has flip-flopped. Now, he says he wants to promote tourism in the country!!

 

[the Great Khan]

Either one of the options!

sorry you need to clarify..what would you do if you were in charge.

 

[Arsal_AK]

Masks work. It's not hard to say wear masks even clothes ones should do the trick. We have started doing that here in Islamabad. Atleast the order was given. Let's see if people follow and how it pans out. Many were already wearing one to be fair.

 

[MRSN]

only because he didnt do what you think he should.

correction.. "what doctors said he should do". Almost all doctore in the Punjab and all over Pakistan begged him to keep the lockdown but he didn't care about that.

IK is looking like the Brazilian president who didn't took Coronavirus seriously and now look at their conditions. They are breaking all the records. Pakistan is also breaking its all records every next day.

 

[saeedhk]

sorry you need to clarify..what would you do if you were in charge.

Either enforce a lock-down or wear masks and observe social distancing!

 

[Syed1]

Because he has flip-flopped. Now, he says he wants to promote tourism in the country!!

Did you even listen to his justification?

Poor people of the Northern Areas only have tourism during the summer months and what they earn during these 4-5 months sustains them for the rest of the year. Are you personally going to come from Hong Kong and finance the expenditure of millions of these people for the next year?


Easy to sit in your foreign paradise and harp that IK should have done this or done that. He is looking out for the poor and hungry and this is what is causing the elite class to wet their nappies.



Also he didn't ask the people to flood markets or have long lines outside Khaadi. Half the people think corona is some hoax. IK cannot personally go to every person and ask him to wear mask and do social distancing.

 

[Syed1]

correction.. "what doctors said he should do". Almost all doctore in the Punjab and all over Pakistan begged him to keep the lockdown but he didn't care about that.

IK is looking like the Brazilian president who didn't took Coronavirus seriously and now look at their conditions. They are breaking all the records. Pakistan is also breaking its all records every next day.

Doctors are government employees or they have regular paycheck at the end of the month. Doctors should be listened to but they should not be the only one being heard. If you are so scared and have the means you can lock yourself in your house for the next six months, anyone forcing you to go out?


Funny you are comparing Pakistan with Brazil. They have 30,000 deaths while our death tally by the grace of God is only 1600. It will increase but I hope and pray it does not reach Brazil level. People like you who still worship and support Sharifs were hoping for thousands of deaths just so you could blame IK, and now that that hasn't happened you are clutching at straws.

 

[Syed1]

Masks work. It's not hard to say wear masks even clothes ones should do the trick. We have started doing that here in Islamabad. Atleast the order was given. Let's see if people follow and how it pans out. Many were already wearing one to be fair.

KPK government issued chalans worth Rs. 1000 for not wearing masks. I saw it on social media, not sure how effective or widespread it would be.

 

[saeedhk]

Did you even listen to his justification?

Poor people of the Northern Areas only have tourism during the summer months and what they earn during these 4-5 months sustains them for the rest of the year. Are you personally going to come from Hong Kong and finance the expenditure of millions of these people for the next year?


Easy to sit in your foreign paradise and harp that IK should have done this or done that. He is looking out for the poor and hungry and this is what is causing the elite class to wet their nappies.



Also he didn't ask the people to flood markets or have long lines outside Khaadi. Half the people think corona is some hoax. IK cannot personally go to every person and ask him to wear mask and do social distancing.

Still, that is a bad justification. Bangladesh and India are in a similar position but they did not come up with this legendary idea!!


Yes, he did not ask people to flood shops but he should either have ensured a complete lock-down or ensured people were wearing masks! He has not done both so he deserves criticism!

 

[Syed1]

Masks work. It's not hard to say wear masks even clothes ones should do the trick. We have started doing that here in Islamabad. Atleast the order was given. Let's see if people follow and how it pans out. Many were already wearing one to be fair.

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">1/ Massive drive of District Admins across KP to ensure SOPs esp Mask wearing<br>Ensuring masks policy for shopkeepers and vendors at Amberi Kalla, Karak <a href="https://t.co/tRh9IGPKEg">pic.twitter.com/tRh9IGPKEg</a></p>— Abid Majeed (@AbidMajeed1969) <a href="https://twitter.com/AbidMajeed1969/status/1268160999745638401?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 3, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[the Great Khan]

Either enforce a lock-down or wear masks and observe social distancing!

ok so lets take both of your options one at a time.

Enforce the lockdown:

enforcing a full lockdown involves, rangers and police plus some military assets on the street. It will involve harsh treatment towards anybody breaking it. Possibly shoot to kill or perhaps beat to a pulp like stuff to ensure people stay in doors. What do you do when peoples savings start running out? ok for those with money but what about those with none who are daily wage earners?

secondly you mentioned enforcing SOP's. How? go to every shop in the a city of 20 million for example? a federal govt has to devolve responsibility to the provinces..they have no choice..

 

[saeedhk]

ok so lets take both of your options one at a time.

Enforce the lockdown:

enforcing a full lockdown involves, rangers and police plus some military assets on the street. It will involve harsh treatment towards anybody breaking it. Possibly shoot to kill or perhaps beat to a pulp like stuff to ensure people stay in doors. What do you do when peoples savings start running out? ok for those with money but what about those with none who are daily wage earners?

secondly you mentioned enforcing SOP's. How? go to every shop in the a city of 20 million for example? a federal govt has to devolve responsibility to the provinces..they have no choice..

Well, if there is a lockdown, it will be hard for some people but if there is no lockdown, it will be hard for everybody given the contagion of the virus.

Enforce SOPs effectively using police and rangers and fine people.

 

[the Great Khan]

Still, that is a bad justification. Bangladesh and India are in a similar position but they did not come up with this legendary idea!!


Yes, he did not ask people to flood shops but he should either have ensured a complete lock-down or ensured people were wearing masks! He has not done both so he deserves criticism!

India and Bangladesh arent bankrupt and can provide welfare. We cant thanks to the PMLN and the PPP.

 

[the Great Khan]

Well, if there is a lockdown, it will be hard for some people but if there is no lockdown, it will be hard for everybody given the contagion of the virus.

Enforce SOPs effectively using police and rangers and fine people.

I disagree with easing the lockdown but I understand the dilemma. You die of famine or you die of covid. Most poor people are taking their chances with covid. IK knew the lockdown would have collapsed in on itself anyway. The only way to enforce a proper lockdown is full martial law in pakistan. Nothing else.

Members of my family have been diagnosed with Covid and my in laws who are old could also be potentially effected so I know full well the dangers. The problem was the people were gonna break the lockdown during Eid. No matter what. I think Pakistan will have to ride this one out. I could lose family members because of this damned virus. But I wont be blaming IK. I know where my blame will lie. At the feet of the **** who are living a nice life away in london on the backs of the pakistani people.

 

[saeedhk]

India and Bangladesh arent bankrupt and can provide welfare. We cant thanks to the PMLN and the PPP.

People’s economic situation is similar. All three of us are poverty-stricken!

 

[saeedhk]

I disagree with easing the lockdown but I understand the dilemma. You die of famine or you die of covid. Most poor people are taking their chances with covid. IK knew the lockdown would have collapsed in on itself anyway. The only way to enforce a proper lockdown is full martial law in pakistan. Nothing else.

Members of my family have been diagnosed with Covid and my in laws who are old could also be potentially effected so I know full well the dangers. The problem was the people were gonna break the lockdown during Eid. No matter what. I think Pakistan will have to ride this one out. I could lose family members because of this damned virus. But I wont be blaming IK. I know where my blame will lie. At the feet of the **** who are living a nice life away in london on the backs of the pakistani people.

Sorry to hear about your family.

 

[Slog]

The Chief Justice also has blood on his hands

https://www.voanews.com/south-central-asia/pakistans-top-court-ends-coronavirus-lockdown

 

[pakistani pride]

masks wont stop it. In the UK we have over a 1000 deaths a week and masks are not mandatory.

You keep saying he should have continued the lockdown. So lets take this scenario and run with it. lets say he did a full lockdown. That means curfews for three to six months.If you've lived in karachi you know what a curfew can do. So lets say for 6 months from feb till July ish its a full lockdown. No industry, no shops, no construction, no nothing.

1) How do you feed the people who rely on the industry that has been shut
2) what do you do when you raise the lockdown and the virus increases anyway
3)How do you deal with the inevitable economic fallout and the lack of revenue recieved by the govt as a result of a shutdown
4) If peope cant earn any money what do they do? starve or just ignore the govt anyway and start to open their shops? then what do you do? shoot the people? you cant fine them because they have no money
5) 25 million people in the country live below the poverty line. Do you decide to allow them to die of starvation?
6) and in the process do you throw another 50 million into the same bracket?

I would like to know what you would do to ensure this wouldnt happen.

Finally its all well and good to say "well India did it" may I remind you that our economy is minuscule compared to theirs and we are bankrupt. In spite of this, IK has initiated the only known full on welfare programme in the history of Pakistan. he has laid the ground work for a national health service and a social services net.

The choice is simple for the people: get busy living or get busy dieing. Covid isnt going anywhere.

Basically this.
Extended Lockdown will never be possible in Pakistan.

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[DRsohail]

Out of Control. Things are getting scary. Hope death toll does not rise much.

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan register more than four thousand new coronavirus cases

Pakistan registered its highest single-day rise in coronavirus cases for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, with 4,801 new cases taking the country's total tally to 85,264.

The country's number of cases has now surpassed those officially reported in China, where the first outbreak of the novel coronavirus was reported, according to data from the Johns Hopkins University. World health authorities have, however, cautioned that the Chinese government's official figures on infections and deaths from the coronavirus may not be accurate.

At least 85 patients died in Pakistan on Wednesday, taking the total death toll since the country's outbreak began in late February to 1,813.

Among those who died on Wednesday were two provincial lawmakers - Shaukat Manzoor Cheema of the opposition PML-N party in the central province of Punjab and Mian Jamsheduddin Kakakhel of the ruling PTI party in the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Their deaths came a day after Ghulam Murtaza Baloch, a minister in the Sindh provincial government, died after contracting the coronavirus.

 

[MenInG]

In the last 3 days Pakistan has reported 12,804 Coronavirus cases

 

[the Great Khan]

its getting very dangerous now. I knew ramadhan would be the time this thing would start going upwards.
Can they keep the deaths below a hundred a day now? I highly doubt it as the spread in the last four to six weeks has meant this thing is going to effect alot of people.

Sooner or later they will have to initiate another lockdown. I think they know this and are mitigating things until that point. Im surprised they havent started to lockdown neigbourhoods in lahore which is a major epicentre..

 

[the Great Khan]

Mexico is the comparator for me. They have similar problems to us. We have to keep our recoveries high and deaths low!!

 

[Syed1]

Last three days have seen highest number of cases but what people don't realize is that last three days have also seen the highest number of tests conducted. Today tests crossed 20k for the first time.


If hypothetically tomorrow they do 100,000 tests then 10-20k would come back positive. It's just the nature of the pandemic. Therefore, just looking at new cases is not the right measure in my opinion. Looking at daily deaths should be the criteria and yes there has been a big spike in last 2 weeks. Around 2 weeks ago we were getting daily deaths of 25-50 which have now gone to 65-90. This is due to people's bay-ehtiyaati when lockdown was relaxed around 2-3 weeks ago. Jaan jaye leken Khaadi ki sale na miss ho. Stupid people.

 

[Avicricfan]

Pakistan is in a massive trouble.it has one of the highest positivity rate in the world with 23% tests coming positive. Next few weeks Will be tough

 

[sjahmed23]

Get Vitamin D, vitamin C and zinc this will spread all over pakistan just build up your immune system.

 

[MenInG]

KARACHI: The Sindh Health Department raised alarm over the Centre's new policy regarding the repatriation of overseas Pakistanis on Thursday.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Security Moeed Yousuf had announced the government's new policy according to which overseas Pakistanis were being sent home to isolate after having their tests conducted.

The Sindh government had expressed its reservations over the Centre's policy to send passengers home without obtaining their results. Before this, overseas Pakistanis repatriated to the country were quarantined for 24 hours.

The passengers were allowed to leave for home if their COVID-19 test results came back negative otherwise, they were quarantined for 14 days.

The Sindh Health Department voiced concerns that passengers returning from abroad would meet their relatives and friends which could increase transmission of the virus.

The health department said that by allowing these passengers to go home without obtaining their results first could lead to a surge in the coronavirus cases.

The provincial health department has apprised Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah regarding the situation.

In a recent flight that arrived in Karachi from Saudi Arabia on Thursday, 123 passengers out of 246 tested positive for COVID-19, according to the Sindh government.

Taking to Twitter, Chief Minister Sindh's advisor on law Senator Murtaza Wahab said that the federal government wanted to resume flight operations and allow people in without conducting their tests. However, Sindh government took the initiative to conduct tests of passengers who arrived and will now have to trace them to isolate them.

"Out of 246 people who landed in Karachi from Saudi Arabia, 123 people have tested COVID-19 positive. Federal Govt wanted the flights to open & allow people in without tests. Sindh Govt took tests of the passengers & will now have to trace the passengers and isolate them," he wrote on Twitter.

A source at the federal level has said that unofficially federal government has decided to go with the herd immunity policy.

According to Pakistan Medical Association general secretary Dr Qaise Sajjad, herd immunity is the process when most of a population is immune to an infectious disease, this provides indirect protection—or herd immunity (also called herd protection)—to those who are not immune to the disease.

“For example, if 80% of a population is immune to a virus, four out of every five people who encounter someone with the disease won’t get sick (and won’t spread the disease any further),” he said.

In this way, the spread of infectious diseases is kept under control. Depending on how contagious infection is, usually, 70% to 90% of a population needs immunity to achieve herd immunity, he added.

Govt announces new policy for repatriating overseas Pakistanis
Dr Moeed Yousuf on Wednesday announced a new policy for overseas Pakistanis being repatriated back to the country, saying that the number of passengers being brought back to the country have been increased on directives of PM Imran.

He said that 20,000 passengers will be repatriated by June 10. This makes it 10,000 more overseas Pakistanis who have been repatriated to the country, compared to the previous stage of the whole process.

"The testing process has been further expedited and from today onwards, passengers will be tested on their arrival," Yousuf maintained, adding that the repatriated Pakistanis will be sent home to self-isolate without waiting for the test results.

When they are obtained, the test results will be included in the track and trace system.

 

[MenInG]

1,667 new Coronavirus cases reported from Sindh in past 24 hours - of these 1,311 are in Karachi

 

[last_knight]

Last three days have seen highest number of cases but what people don't realize is that last three days have also seen the highest number of tests conducted. Today tests crossed 20k for the first time.


If hypothetically tomorrow they do 100,000 tests then 10-20k would come back positive. It's just the nature of the pandemic. Therefore, just looking at new cases is not the right measure in my opinion. Looking at daily deaths should be the criteria and yes there has been a big spike in last 2 weeks. Around 2 weeks ago we were getting daily deaths of 25-50 which have now gone to 65-90. This is due to people's bay-ehtiyaati when lockdown was relaxed around 2-3 weeks ago. Jaan jaye leken Khaadi ki sale na miss ho. Stupid people.

I believe 75% population has got exposure and remaining 25% will get exposed in next 10-12 days. Symptomatic cases will continue daily increase till end of June after which it should start declining.

IMHO, Lockdown is useless now.

 

[TrentDevil]

Although number of cases are increasing rapidly and there's record rise in cases almost everyday, on the other hand it's good to see that provincial govts have started to take measures with regards to following SOPs, esp KP and Punjab govt, hearing that some markets have been entirely shut down for not following SOPs. If more emphasis is laid on strict following of SOPs and violators are punished, I think in about 2 weeks we might see no. of cases decreasing considerably, considering that actions been taken in last couple of days against violations aren't a show off and govt continues the work to ensure SOPs are followed everyone and there are no grave violations.

P.S. I would like to see ministers(both at provincial & federal level) wear masks themselves including IK, and follow proper SOPs during pressers.

 

[Abdullah719]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr"><a href="https://twitter.com/ImranKhanPTI?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@ImranKhanPTI</a> today met with the leadership of Insaf Doctors Forum. Prime Minister highly appreciated the role of health workers in combating <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID%E3%83%BC19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVIDー19</a> and he emphasized the need for health reforms to strengthen the health care system in the country. <314> <a href="https://t.co/oTI8Up8kdh">pic.twitter.com/oTI8Up8kdh</a></p>— Zafar Mirza (@zfrmrza) <a href="https://twitter.com/zfrmrza/status/1268546042221428737?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">June 4, 2020</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[last_knight]

There is a "Rent a Mask" going on outside few hospitals and markets

 

[Kianig89]

If IK was damn serious about. Coronavirus then first thing first he should have sacked Zulfi Bukhari completely destroyed all his good work the dent in economy these lockdown have dealt would be irreparable for IK

 

[Abdullah719]

Relatives being offered money to declare deceased as COVID-19 patient, claims MPA

KARACHI: The senior leader and Member of Provincial Assembly (MPA) of Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-P), Khawaja Izharul Hassan, has revealed that relatives were being offered money to declared the deceased people as COVID-19 patients, ARY News reported on Thursday.

Khawaja Izharul Hassan, while speaking on the floor of Sindh Assembly, revealed that relatives of deceased persons in Badin were being offered money to categorise them in COVID-19 patients.

The MQM-P provincial lawmaker claimed that a welfare institution has informed him regarding the matter and it could be a conspiracy against the Sindh province. He demanded the Sindh government to immediately hold an inquiry into the matter besides taking strict action against the responsible persons.

“I heard the speeches of the Sindh Chief Minister [Murad Ali Shah] and Murtaza Wahab which were very good. How can we make a lockdown successful if six persons are living at a residence having only two rooms? The fight between the Centre and Sindh have given loss to the province.

Hassan added that business persons have earned much more after the spread of coronavirus and sold face masks including N-95 on very high rates, whereas, police forces have also failed to exhibit a positive role in the implementation of lockdown measures.

He claimed that police officials demanded business persons to pay them money on a monthly basis in order to allow their businesses to run smoothly. The MQM-P leader said that traders, educators and doctors were not satisfied with the steps of the Sindh government amid COVID-19 crisis.

https://arynews.tv/en/khawaja-izhar-covid-19-patients-sindh/

 

[The Viper]

Balochistan's tally of Covid-19 cases rises to 5,582; 2 more die

228 new cases of the coronavirus have been confirmed in Balochistan, taking the provincial tally of infections to 5,582, according to the Balochistan health department.

The province also reported two deaths during the last day, with its toll of confirmed deaths rising to 53.

 

[amvbfm]

I believe 75% population has got exposure and remaining 25% will get exposed in next 10-12 days. Symptomatic cases will continue daily increase till end of June after which it should start declining.

IMHO, Lockdown is useless now.

So you are saying about 150 million people have been infected already? And there are only 85,000 identified cases? That would mean that either 99.9% of our cases are asymptomatic or that we as a nation have some sort of superhuman immunity to the virus.

Don't think even 1% of the population has been exposed yet. That is why the situation is so serious. I really don't agree with all these reports about there being hundreds of thousands of unidentified corona patients in Pakistan. It would mean that almost all patients in Pakistan are asymptomatic. Studies from around the world have put the number of asymptomatic cases anywhere from 20-80%. So even in the worst case scenario we should currently have around 400,000 infected.

However, the fact that a smaller portion of the population has been infected should not come as a relief. It infact is the reason why the situation is so dire. It would imply that contrary to most estimates, in the absence of strict mitigation strategies, we are no where near the peak. The cases will most likely continue to increase as the level of activity increases. Countries like Italy and US peaked under strict lockdowns. We are in the totally opposite situation, i really can't see how the outbreak will peak or decline any time soon in these conditions.

 

[MenInG]

 

[MenInG]

Covid-19 cases are rising fast in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh - between them, they are home to more than a fifth of the world's population.

The spike comes as all three countries lift lockdowns to curb the spread of the virus.

Pakistan now has 86,139 confirmed cases - its tally crossed China's on Thursday. Bangladesh has recorded more than 57,500 cases so far. And India on Friday registered yet another record single-day spike, adding 9,000 cases, taking its tally to 216,919.

Deaths remain relatively low, comparatively - at 6,075, India has had the most, and Pakistan (1,793) and Bangladesh (781) are far behind on this count.

But experts fear the numbers are a sign of undercounting, and with the peak yet to come in these countries there is also concern over their health systems coping with a sudden deluge of infections.

 

[Shazzam]

I don’t see any plan for stopping this spread. Pakistan is relying on herd immunity to survive this. Lets hope they do. Otherwise things may look very dire.

 

[MenInG]

Pakistan registered 3,985 new cases of the coronavirus, raising the country's tally of cases to 89,249, as an increased rate of spread of the virus continues in the South Asian nation.

This week, the country's case tally has risen by 19,753, or 22 percent.

Restrictions remain largely lifted or ignored across the country. This week, Prime Minister Imran Khan called for citizens to resume visiting tourist locations.

At least 73 people died from COVID-19 on Thursday, raising the country's overall death toll from the coronavirus to 1,886. Pakistan, like other South Asian countries, has seen a lower rate of deaths among confirmed cases of the coronavirus than in many European and North American countries, registering a case fatality rate of 2.11 percent, compared to 14.13 in the UK, 15.33 in France and 5.79 percent in the United States.

 

[Abdullah719]

Pak Nigehbaan app launched regarding availability of ventilators

The National Command and Operations Centre launched an application called Pak Nigehban regarding the availability of ventilators in hospitals across the country.

The app can be downloaded from mobile app stores, said an official statement. It is also available at Google Drive and Covid.gov.pk.

The statement said that around 1,110 hospitals around the country will be associated with the app.

The app will aid in informing healthcare workers, emergency responders and any citizen about the availability of beds and ventilators near to them.

The app can be quite helpful in saving lives in emergency situations.

Meanwhile, the statement added that the NCOC has launched the Resource Management System.

The system will sync around 15,459 hospitals across the country.

The RMS will also assist the provinces in assessing facilities being provided at the hospitals under their domain.

The inventory of the hospitals can also checked through the system, which in turn can assist in rectifying shortcomings in the medical facilities.

Even as of Friday, Pakistan provided a dismal picture with more than 90,000 cases of the novel coronavirus and above 1800 deaths.

https://www.geo.tv/latest/291609-pak-nigehbaan-app-launched-regarding-availability-of-ventilators

 

[Abdullah719]

 

[Syed1]

Cases continue to explode... even one death is too many but if there is any consolation today deaths were 68 compared to the high of I think 88 around 3-4 days back.

 

[sjahmed23]

Cases continue to explode... even one death is too many but if there is any consolation today deaths were 68 compared to the high of I think 88 around 3-4 days back.

Deaths lag new cases by 1-2 weeks. We will start to see an unfortunate increase in deaths next week.

Pakistan now #6 in the world with the most # of active cases reported. This looks bad it, we are where Italy was 2 months ago...

 

[sjahmed23]

Eid should've been cancelled tbh. Our government learned nothing from China??? In China situation got really bad after the Chinese New Year and they had to shut down the whole country because of that, if we had decided to cancel eid and enforced a strict shut down on this day alone it would've reduced the number of new cases by a fraction.