Pakistan may cross first Covid-19 wave numbers, warns Asad Umar

[Major]

Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Saturday warned that Covid-19 cases in the country could soon cross the numbers seen during the first wave of the pandemic.

Addressing the media after chairing a session of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the minister said if the cases increase at the current rate during the next few days or week, the situation would be worse than the peak of the first wave which was witnessed in June last year.

Reiterating that the government's first priority was saving the livelihood of people from the pandemic, Umar said tougher restrictions might be imposed if the current trend continues in the country.

"Our first effort is this (protection of livelihoods) but you're seeing the speed with which this is continuing to spread. If we don't take immediate measures then such a situation can also develop that we have to increase restrictions."

The country is experiencing its third Covid-19 wave – fuelled by the UK variant of the virus – and recorded more than 4,300 cases during the previous 24-hr period.

"The Covid situation which is taking shape is becoming very dangerous," said the head of the NCOC.

Umar further said that the third wave was being fuelled by the virus' UK strain which is more transmissible and said that data from other countries in the region also points to this fact.

He added that during a review of the SOPs and measures to curb the spread of the disease by the NCOC, it was found that instructions and SOPs are not being followed as they should have been.

"It is my request to the political leadership, ours and the opposition's, to spread the message that Pakistan once again needs to combat the disease and defend our people."

Adding that the people of the country have already shown once before that they could successfully combat the pandemic, he urged all sections of the society to play their role in following SOPs and spreading the message.

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

A clinical investigation, published on March 11 in “Journal of Medical Virology”, showed that SARS-CoV-2/B117 – the UK variant – is spreading fast in Pakistan and variably reacting against the immunity gained by recovered persons from the previous infection in the country and across the globe.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2291757/pakistan-may-cross-first-covid-19-wave-numbers-warns-asad-umar

 

[Major]

Good statement by Asad Umar.

I have started to respect him after this. He knows what the issue is and is making the right call here. This 3rd wave is becoming problematic.

Covid Hospitals have started to have increase in patients in Rwp

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

Under no circumstance should the country be shutdown again. The cure can not be worse than the disease.

 

[Major]

Under no circumstance should the country be shutdown again. The cure can not be worse than the disease.

the disease is not affordable to treat

 

[Gharib Aadmi]

the disease is not affordable to treat

There will be enough vaccines for everyone by sometime next year.

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan has appealed to the people to avoid gatherings of any sort as the country grapples with an intensifying third wave of the coronavirus pandemic.

"I exercised precaution for a whole year. I never went to any wedding or even to a restaurant to eat. I practiced social distancing and kept my mask on for the most part," the premier said, as he began his video message.

"So I was safe. I was among those who remained safe in the first two waves [...] in the Senate election I did not exercise as much caution and so caught the virus," he added.

The prime minister said that today he cannot stress enough the need to exercise safety precautions.

"The third [wave] is much more intense than the first two. I advise you all to be extremely careful.

"The first thing you should do is wear a mask. This has been proven across the world. Wearing a mask dramatically reduces the chances of you contracting coronavirus," explained PM Imran Khan.

He said secondly, it is important to understand that Pakistan "does not have the resources to go [under a complete lockdown] and feed people and take care of them".

"Even countries far better off than Pakistan do not have the resources to do such a thing," the prime minister added.

He acknowledged that ideally the country should shut down, but what we can do given the circumstances, is follow safety measures, like wearing a mask.

"Try your utmost [to do this religiously] and tell others too. Because I fear the third peak that is coming, will be worse than the first two peaks," he stressed.

The premier said that "there is no telling where it is headed".

"Our hospitals are already full and continue to fill up. Especially with the variant from UK that people have brought to Lahore, Islamabad and Peshawar, where we are witnessing a rapid rise in cases," he said, urging people to realise the gravity of the situation.

PM Imran Khan said more and more people are being put on ventilators and oxygen beds and called upon the nation to exercise the same level of caution that they did in the first wave.

"People cited our example throughout the world, saying we tackled the situation far better than most countries at that time," he remarked.

"I know it has been a year and people no longer bother, but I will say this to you again: God forbid, if this continues to spread at the rate it is, all our hospitals will fill up entirely," the prime minister went on to say.

He said there are vaccine shortages in the world and the vaccines promised to Pakistan have been delayed because there are shortages in manufacturing countries.

"So it is of paramount importance we follow [standard operating procedures]. Do not go to gatherings, such as weddings, restaurants, as these are places considered to be super spreaders," the premier said.

GEO

 

[MenInG]

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged the masses to follow coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs), warning that the number of cases in the country are rising at an alarming rate.

“This third wave of Covid-19 is more lethal than the previous ones and I advise everyone to take precautions [against Covid-19] particularly wearing face mask,” the premier who himself infected with the novel coronavirus earlier this month and is in self-isolation said in a recorded message on Sunday.

However, PM Imran again ruled out the option of imposing a complete lockdown in the country, saying the government did not have enough resources to afford the economic cost of the business shutdown.

He said hospitals in different parts of the country are nearing their capacity as those who returned from England have spread the new variant of coronavirus which is highly contagious.

He urged the masses to avoid going places which are termed superspreader of the virus like wedding ceremonies, restaurants and other enclosed spaces.

Premier Imran while disclosing the reason as to why he was infected with virus admitted that he flouted the SOPs during the recently-held Senate elections.

“Allah has been so kind to me and my wife [Bushra Bibi] but this virus can prove very dangerous if it enters into the human chest,” said the PM while warning the public about the deadly virus.

As per the data updated by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) today, Pakistan's tally for confirmed cases has reached 654,591, with at least 4,767 cases being reported only a day ago.

Moreover, the country's death toll now stands at 14,215 after it recorded 57 fatalities in the last 24 hours.

The country still has 3,043 patients in critical condition. As per the Covid portal, a total of 595,929 patients have recovered from the virus in Pakistan so far.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: With coronavirus continuing to spread rapidly and 1,725 new cases reported during the last 24 hours in the Punjab capital alone, the divisional administration is considering a proposal to close the entire city to all those travelling to and from here daily.

Entry and exit would only be allowed in extreme emergency cases, Dawn has learnt. The Lahore administration also launched a crackdown on those flouting the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“We are seriously working on a proposal to close down the Punjab capital keeping in view a massive surge in Covid-19 cases daily. We will present this proposal in a meeting of the cabinet committee on coronavirus scheduled to be held on Monday (today),” Lahore Commissioner retired Capt Muhammad Usman Younas told Dawn on Sunday.

He said he would plead this proposal before the committee headed by Chief Minister Usman Buzdar. “We also have a second option in case the first one is not approved under which we will request the committee to at least allow us to close down all marriage halls, transport modes and restaurants for 10 to 12 days,” the commissioner explained.

Crackdown launched on those flouting SOPs at public places

To a question, he said closing down the city or observing a complete lockdown meant there would be no entry to and exit from Lahore. Only the essential services would remain open, as witnessed last year. “Our main objective at this time is to contain public mobility at maximum level at least for 10 to 12 days, as it is necessary to break the virus-spread cycle,” he maintained.

“Lahore reported 1,725 cases yesterday. The situation is getting bad with every passing day. Lets play our part in raising awareness, as we need to stop the spread,” the commissioner tweeted. “Yesterday, 27 new areas were put under lockdown totalling 40 in Lahore. So those found violating the non-pharmaceutical interventions will be dealt with severely. It is time to act,” he said in another tweet.

On the other hand, the city administration launched a massive crackdown on the people flouting Covid-19 SOPs in public places. Deputy Commissioner Mudassir Riaz Malik visited Jilani Park and got 10 youngsters arrested for not wearing facemasks.

He also distributed masks among those not wearing any. “Why are you putting your life at risk by not wearing masks which is a key SOP to avert contracting coronavirus? You must follow the SOPs for your own and others’ safety,” he told the people.

A team led by the City assistant commissioner visited Islampura, Krishan Nagar, Karim Park and Shad Bagh and got 30 people arrested for not wearing masks. First information reports were also lodged against them.

Another team sealed a bus terminal at Thokar Niaz Baig for not implementing the SOPs, especially social distancing and wearing masks. The team also raided bus terminals of other companies near Yatim Khana and impounded 10 buses and imposed a fine of Rs100,000 on the owners of 40 others for flouting the SOPs.

Meanwhile, Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Secretary Nabeel Awan, while talking to a private TV channel, said that if the government did not ban large gatherings, it would not be able to control the spread of the virus.

Published in Dawn, March 29th, 2021

 

[MenInG]

To rein in the surge in coronavirus cases, the government has decided to further tighten restrictions in areas having high infection rates. The authorities proposed micro-smart lockdown in 38 more areas of the provincial capital on Sunday.

The district administration advised the government to impose micro-smart lockdown in selected areas and streets of Defence Housing Authority (DHA), EME Society, Mustafa Town, Bahria Town, Allama Iqbal Town, Tech Society, Askari Vilas, Shalimar, Paragon City, Valencia Town, Lake City, Gulberg, Garden Town, Model Town, Samanabad, Malik Park, Mohni Road, Riwaz Garden, Sandha, Shah Jamal and Islampura. A communiqué was sent to the provincial government for seeking approval to impose lockdown in the areas.

The city police were also directed to remain alert in the coronavirus hotspots.

Earlier, the district administration had imposed micro-smart lockdown in 27 areas of Lahore, including neighbourhoods of Johar Town, PIA Housing Society, Architect Society, NFC Housing Society, Lahore Press Club Housing Society, DHA, Saadi Park, Model Town, State Life Insurance Housing Society, Gulshan Ravi and Valencia Town.

The government also decided to strictly enforce the condition of wearing of face mask in public. As many as 44 cases were registered against citizen roaming in the city without face mask on Sunday. A spokesperson for the city police highlighted that the highest number of 33 cases were registered in City Division over face mask violation. Three cases each were registered in Iqbal Town, Civil Lines and Model Town divisions. Similarly, two cases were registered in Cantt Division.

He highlighted that total 83 cases were registered on Sunday over different violations of the coronavirus safety standard operating procedures (SOPs). The government has also constituted joint teams of police, local administration and health department to conduct inspections and raids in this regard. The authorities have been directed to take stern action against violators of the SOPs without any discrimination.

Lahore Division Commissioner Muhammad Usman closed down the operations of a bus service over violation of coronavirus SOPs. He sealed Thokar Niaz Baig Terminal of Daewoo Express for loading over 50% passengers in intercity buses in violation of the SOPs.

On the commissioner’s instruction, the local administration also sealed 15 intercity buses over violations of coronavirus SOPs, including social distancing, and slapped a fine of Rs30,000 on public transport companies’ staff for not wearing masks. The commissioner also distributed face masks among citizens and motorists in different areas of the city. He warned citizens and officials that strict action would be taken against violators of SOPs.

Regional Transport Authority (RTA) officials also checked enforcement of coronavirus SOPs at different bus terminals, imposed Rs100,000 worth of fine and sealed 10 buses. The RTA secretary also instructed the officials concerned to strictly implement the coronavirus SOPs.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar said that the number of coronavirus patients was increasing immensely amid the third wave of the pandemic. Following the government’s guidelines for curbing coronavirus was in the best interest of the people, he added.

He said the people can only protect themselves by following the SOPs. He stressed that citizens should make face mask a compulsory part of their lives. Adopting the preventive measures is an effective way to deal with coronavirus, Buzdar added.

He said that effective and timely measures have been taken by the government to deal with coronavirus. He urged the people to play their due role and cooperate with the government. The government will continue to take more steps to safeguard the lives of the people as extraordinary circumstances demand extraordinary steps, he added.

He warned that more strict restrictions can be imposed for safeguarding the lives of the people.


Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2021.

 

[Bewal Express]

IA the country comes through this wave. My brother has just come back and he says that nobody seemed to care for protocols. Tough times ahead.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: Positivity ratio of COVID-19 cases in Islamabad reached 15.9% on Monday, recording 856 cases during the past 24 hours, while in Peshawar, directives were issued to impose mirco-smart lockdown in eight more areas.

According to District Health Officer Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia, the ratio of the cases in the federal capital on Sunday remained 15.9 per cent.

As many as 653 beds have been allocated in the private and government hospitals for Covid patients in Islamabad. Out of the allocated beds, 264 are still reported to be unoccupied.

Some 99 ventilators have been designated for the patients, of which 52 are currently in use.

At least 55,594 people have so far been affected by the pandemic in the federal capital, of whom 47,064 have recovered. 561 people were reported to have lost their lives to the virus. There are currently 7,969 active cases in Islamabad.

In Peshawar, micro-smart lockdowns are to be imposed in eight areas from 6pm today, restricting all movements.

The areas where the restriction will take effect include Shaheen Town, Amjad Colony Peshawar Board, Abdul Wahab Road Wazir Bagh, Pajgi, Tauheed Colony and Shahi Khel.

According to the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC), at least 41 people lost their lives to Covid.

As many as 4,525 people tested positive for the virus across the country since Sunday, with the total standing at 46,663.

A total of 14,256 people have so far lost their lives due to the infections. There are, at present, 3,648 patients under treatment at different hospitals across Pakistan. 387 patients are critical and are on ventilators.

Since the beginning of the outbreak, a total of 659,116 cases were detected, including in 12,484 in AJK, 19,585 in Balochistan, 5,010 in GB, 56,450 in Islamabad, 85,581 in K-P, 215,227 in Punjab, and 264,889 in Sindh.

 

[MenInG]

After Prime Minister Imran Khan, President Arif Alvi has also tested positive for the novel coronavirus.

"I have tested positive for Covid-19. May Allah have mercy on all Covid affectees," he wrote on his official Twitter handle.

The president said that he had his first dose of vaccine but the antibodies start to develop after the second dose that was due in a week.

"Please continue to be careful," he urged the masses.

The news comes days after PM Imran had tested positive for Covid-19. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan said that the premier was isolating at home.

On March 15, the president and First Lady Samina Alvi got their anti-Covid vaccine in Islamabad with the former urging the nation to take precautions to make the country sail through the third wave of the pandemic.

Meanwhile, Defence Minister Pervez Khattak has also tested positive for the deadly virus.

"Perwaiz Khatak is diagnosed with Covid positive. Get well soon PK," Governor Sindh Imran Ismail wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Pakistan's Covid-19 cases reached a nine-month high in the past week with more than 4,500 cases being reported consecutively. However, the government is facing criticism over the slow rollout of the vaccine, considered essential to stem the spread of the lethal virus.

A day earlier, Dr Faisal Sultan had said that the current wave of Covid-19 in Pakistan has the potential to be worse than the first one which struck the country in the summer of 2020.

"Covid-19’s current wave has potential to be worse than the first one in the summer of 2020. No time for complacency or visiting crowded places of any kind. Wear masks and educate those around you," Sultan had said on Twitter.

 

[MenInG]

Authorities in Sindh on Tuesday imposed micro-smart lockdowns in three sub-divisions of Karachi amid an uptick in Covid-19 cases.

According to a notification, the micro-smart lockdowns have been imposed in the various union councils and residential areas of North Karachi, North Nazimabad and Gulberg. The lockdowns would remain in force till April 12.

The decision was taken as the areas had been identified as Covid-19 hotspots by the local district health officer.

The notification further stated that everyone travelling from the affected areas must wear face masks whereas pillion riding was banned.

Furthermore, all business and industrial activities, along with family gatherings have been banned in the localities with instructions to Covid-positive patients to quarantine at home.

The provincial government would take all possible steps to distribute rations to deserving people living in the affected areas, the notification added.

A day earlier, the government of Punjab also announced multiple smart lockdowns across various provincial districts where the positivity ratio of Covid-19 is 12pc or higher.

The lockdowns will be in effect from April 1 to April 11.

Chief Minister Usman Buzdar announced the decision while addressing a press conference after a meeting with the cabinet committee on coronavirus. Decisions would be reviewed by the committee after seven days, he added.

“There will be a ban on indoor, outdoor wedding ceremonies and other events,” he said, adding that only takeaways and home deliveries would be allowed from restaurants.

Furthermore, the provincial government also announced a ban on religious, political, cultural and sports gatherings. In another measure, the chief minister announced that the vehicle of the driver, who is not wearing a mask, would also be confiscated.

“Shops will remain open till 6pm while shops will remain closed two days of the week whereas heavy fines would be imposed on those caught violating the SOPs,” Buzdar warned.

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD:
At least 100 more people lost their lives to COVID-19 during the past 24 hours—the highest since December last year.

According to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Punjab witnessed the most deaths during the period, totaling 73, followed by 18 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, four in Sindh, two each in Islamabad and Azad Jammu & Kashmir, and one in Balochistan.

As many as 46,566 people have been tested for Covid-19 since Monday, of which 4,084 tested positive for the virus.

Also read President Alvi, Defence Minister Khattak test positive for Covid-19

The total cases across the country currently stand at 663,200, with the active cases touching the mark of 48,566. Some 600,278 people have so far recovered from the virus.

In Islamabad and in Multan, 67 per cent of the ventilators are occupied by Covid-19 patients, while the ratio is 63 per cent in Lahore, 60 in Peshawar and Gujranwala. 85 per cent of the oxygen beds in Gujranwala are occupied with the patients, 84 in Swat, 81 in Peshawar and 74 per cent in Gujarat.

Meanwhile, registration for the vaccination of people above the age of 50 will begin today. According to the NCOC, those falling in the criteria may send their CNIC numbers to 1166 to get registered for the dose.

Metro-bus service closed

Metro bus service in Rawalpindi from Saddar to IJP section has been closed on the directives of Punjab government in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.

According to the management, the situation will be reviewed today regarding the resumption of the service.

Also read Punjab to tighten Covid-19 restrictions from April 1

However, the service has been functional from IJP section to the Islamabad secretariat with the management stating that they have not received any directions to close it in the federal capital.

It further said that the number of passengers in Islamabad is extremely low, adding that they are taking commuters onboard while observing the safety SOPs.

The indecision on whether the service should be closed in its entirety is reportedly due to the lack of coordination between the federal and Punjab governments.

 

[MenInG]

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah has suggested to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Covid-19 to impose a ban on inter-city transport for the next two weeks in order to contain the third wave of coronavirus pandemic.

"Our overall detection rate of Covid patients is 3.5%. This shows that we, the province of Sindh, are less affected but the travelling of the people to and from Sindh is bound to aggravate the situation," Murad said on Wednesday at an NCC meeting.

The virtual meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan from his Bani Gala residence, was attended by the chief ministers of all the four provinces. The chief minister said the third wave of coronavirus is very dangerous and is spreading furiously.

“I suggest that the NCOC [National Command & Operation Center] impose a ban on the inter-city transport for the next two weeks. However, goods transport may continue as usual. The third wave of COVID-19 has started spreading fast. Therefore a ban on inter-city transport would help to contain it."

Shah said the business centers operate under the standard operating procedures (SOPs) so that local business activities can continue as usual under the SOPs.

"We have to make necessary arrangements for procurement of Covid-19 vaccine in bulk so that each and every individual of this country can be secured," he said. He also told the meeting that the Infectious Disease Hospital established in Karachi for the treatment of Covid-19 patients is doing well.

The chief minister was assured that his suggestion would be discussed in the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting to be held on Thursday [today].

Talking to the media after the meeting, Murad said the steps that the Sindh government took last year helped to combat and control the virus in the country.

“Despite opposition from the center, we imposed lockdowns and banned intercity and interprovincial traffic. Now everyone is taking credit for our measures and I have no objection to that. All I want is to ensure that the pandemic is controlled,” he said

He said the world is overcoming the crisis through vaccination while in Pakistan people are still waiting for the vaccination to begin. He said vaccines that have been administered are negligible. The world is opening up again after vaccination. However, we could not bring or administer the vaccine on time.

“I have repeatedly said that nothing is worth more than good health and life. The center opposed our measures and lockdowns but everyone followed suit afterwards. They were talking about saving the economy, but here we have the worst performing economy in the entire region.”

Criticizing the federal government he said they devastated the economy to a point that they had to embarrassingly remove the finance minister.

“They are themselves admitting that he [Dr Hafeez Shaikh] was removed due to inflation. They did not achieve any objective while risking the lives of the people. I reiterate that the timely measures of the Sindh government benefited the entire country,” he added.

At the NCC meeting, Murad was assisted by Sindh health minister Dr Azra Pechuho, adviser on law Murtaza Wahab, parliamentary secretary health Qasim Siraj Soomro, Karachi Additional Inspector General Police Ghulam Nabi Memon and personal secretary.

CM proposes two-week long ban on inter-city transport

Earlier during the day, Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah suggested to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) to impose a ban on inter-city transport for the next two weeks to contain the dangerous third wave of coronavirus, otherwise, the situation may aggravate further.

The meeting was chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan. The chief minister along with his team, Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Advisor Murtaza Wahab, Parliamentary Secretary Health Qasim Siraj Soomro, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Adl IG Karachi Ghulam Nabi Memon, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro attended the meeting via video link from CM House.

The chief minister said that the third wave of coronavirus was very dangerous and was spreading furiously. “Though it is not as intense in Sindh as it is in other parts of the country, particularly in AJK, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and the federal capital, yet we have to take some drastic measures to contain it,” he said.

Murad suggested that the NCC impose a ban on the movement of inter-city transport for the next two weeks and during that time the goods transport would continue their operation as usual. “The third wave [of Covid-19) is very dangerous and has started spreading fast, therefore a ban on inter-city transport would help to contain it,” he suggested to the NCC.

The chief minister was assured that his suggestion would be discussed in the National Command & Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting to be held on Thursday.

Murad Ali Shah also urged the federal government to start registering all the people of the province for vaccination. “We have to make necessary arrangements for procurement of Covid vaccine in bulk so that each and every individual of the country can be secured,” he said.

He also informed the meeting that the Infectious Disease Hospital in Karachi for the treatment of Covid -19 patients was serving the purpose by performing well.

“Our overall detection rate of Covid patients is 3.5 per cent – this shows that we, the province of Sindh, are less affected but the travelling of the people in and from Sindh is bound to aggravate the situation,” he told the premier.

 

[MenInG]

LAHORE: A large number of teens and minors in Punjab have contracted the British-variant coronavirus during the last three months.

An official data shows a total of 19,367 under-18 children have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak of the infections in Punjab so far.

Of them, 8,520 got infected during the first three months of the current year in the province, as per the report.

Similarly, out of the total children infected in Punjab, 8,390 are from Lahore.

Further segregation of the statistics unveils a worrisome situation in Lahore.

Three corona babies having comorbidities died at Children’s Hospital in March

It states that out of total 8,390 Covid-19 children in the city, 4,133 tested positive for the virus during the first three months of the current year and others in 2020.

Most children showed mild symptoms or had no symptoms at all but some kids got severely ill when they were shifted to hospitals.

The medical experts are of the view that the minor children and teens being shifted to hospitals with comorbidities might be at greater risk of severe illness.

They say the symptoms of Covid are similar in adults and children and can look like symptoms of other common illnesses such as fever, cough, flu or allergies.

According to the official data, March 2021 remained troublesome as the virus infected 2,357 children in Lahore and the number was only seven [the same month of last year]. In February this year, 739 and in January 1,037 children contracted Covid.

As far as Punjab is concerned, figures show a record 4,830 under-18 children were declared Covid patients in March this year and the number was 75 in the corresponding period of last year.

This number is the highest since the infection hit the province in March last year.

In February and January this year, 1,669 and 2,021 children tested positive for the virus, respectively in Punjab and the collective number of these two months was less than that reported in March.

In June last year, when the virus was at its peak, total (second highest number) 2,875 under-18 children had tested positive.

Meanwhile, 46 more patients died of the virus during the last 24 hours in Punjab, taking the death toll to 6,363.

Similarly, the total number of infections reached 220,392 in the province after 2,698 more people tested positive during the same period.

Of the total new positive cases, 1,627 were reported from Lahore which was reporting the highest positivity rate during the last three months or so.

Lahore Children’s Hospital Dean Prof Masood Sadiq confirmed the death of three Covid-positive babies in March.

He, however, said the cause of deaths was comorbidities. He said a total of 46 minor children were admitted to the health facility during the month.

He said currently 17 babies testing positive were under treatment at the facility while others have been discharged.

The three-month-old baby with complex congenital heart disease (incomplete heart formation), was shifted to the Children Hospital. On developing pneumonia, the tests reports confirmed the baby positive for the virus. He was later shifted to Covid unit from cardiac surgery ICU but stayed less than a day on a ventilator and died.

Similarly, a four-month-old baby was shifted from a private hospital for ventilator support and had Pyo-meningitis (brain infection along with blood infection- sepsis). He was put on ventilator support in MICU. The PCR test later showed him Covid-positive. He was shifted to Covid unit and died in less than 24 hours.

The 11-day-old baby was shifted to hospital with a very critical heart defect called coarctation of the aorta with pulmonary hypertension and poor heart function.

The cardiac surgery was planned and an emergency PCR done. PCR turned out to be positive and he was shifted from the NICU to Covid unit on a ventilator. However, he died within a few hours before cardiac surgery could be performed.

Published in Dawn, April 1st, 2021

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Yesterday there were 3468 covid patients on critical care in Pakistan yesterday. This is the highest number since covid started. The need for strong enforcement of sop's is vital. Please take precautions and cooperate with administration in their enforcement efforts</p>— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1378571107041751042?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 4, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[MenInG]

ISLAMABAD: The chief of the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), the body that leads Pakistan's fight against the coronavirus pandemic, Asad Umar has yet to be vaccinated for coronavirus, it emerged on Sunday.

Reliable sources told Geo News that the minister, who is nearly 60, according to a profile on the World Bank website, has not yet been vaccinated, despite heading the country's anti-coronavirus efforts.

Sources said that the minister refuses to get preferential treatment in this regard.

Government-provided vaccinations are open to people aged 50 and above, as is the Russian Sputnik V vaccine, which is privately available.

It may be recalled that the minister tested positive for coronavirus in December last year.

He reported recovery within ten days and was immediately back to leading the efforts for Pakistan to keep the virus at bay.

 

[MenInG]

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), which serves as the nerve centre of the government’s anti-pandemic strategy, reported 5,312 new Covid-19 cases on Friday as the number of active cases continue to climb during the third wave of the pandemic in Pakistan.

There are now a total of 69,811 active cases in Pakistan.

At least105 deaths were reported during the previous 24-hr period out of which 33 died on ventilators. Most of the deaths took place in Punjab followed by Kyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

The highest number of ventilators are currently occupied in Gujranwala (88%), Multan (81%), Lahore (79%), and Bahawalpur (68%).

During the previous 24-hour period, at least 54,948 Covid tests were conducted nationwide on April 8 out of which 9,392 were conducted in Sindh, 25,871 in Punjab, 8,090 in KP, 8,711 in ICT, 1,257 in Balochistan, 467 in GB, and 1,160 in AJK.

According to NCOC's statistics, the total number of Covid-19 cases detected so far in Pakistan stand at 710,829 out of which 267,970 were in Sindh, 243,295 in Punjab, 96,128 in KP, 64,173 in ICT, 20,097 in Balochistan, 14,069 in AJK, and 5,097 in GB.

Total recoveries are at 625,780 individuals.

A day earlier, the government announced that the final phase of the ongoing vaccination campaign against coronavirus would be initiated after Eidul Fitr, covering people of every age group.

The vaccination campaign started in February with frontline health workers getting the jabs on a priority. In the next phase in March the government allowed vaccination of senior citizens or those over 60 years of age. Later the government lowered the age limit to 50 years.

Besides the government’s campaign of free vaccination, the private sector has also been allowed to import the doses.

 

[Last Monetarist]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Reviewed situation of disease spread, fill up of hospitals & SOP compliance status in the NCOC meeting today. SOP compliance remains very weak & pressure on hospitals is increasing. Administration has been asked to ramp up compliance enforcement to avoid a crises like situation</p>— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) <a href="https://twitter.com/Asad_Umar/status/1381520023131422725?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 12, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2295950/last-chance-to-break-the-chain-of-daily-virus-cases-umar-warns-citizens

National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) chief Asad Umar rang alarm bells for citizens on Wednesday, saying the country was days away from having to take serious measures if the Covid-19 situation continued on the same trajectory.

The minister's remarks came during a press conference held following a meeting of the NCOC.

"This is the last chance to break the chain of daily Covid cases," the NCOC chief asserted.

"If the Covid-19 trajectory continues in the same path then strict restrictions would have to be imposed in which major cities could be placed under a lockdown," the minister warned.

He urged citizens to take the pandemic seriously and follow the Covid-19 protocols for their sake as well as for those around them. "Otherwise the 'ultimate step' will be taken to curb the spread of the virus," he said.

The NCOC chief also warned that most Covid-19 related deaths would occur in the current week.

"Ramazan was supposed to be a month of religious practice. But we are picking up bodies of people who died of Covid-19," the minister lamented. Sharing current statistics, the minister said that oxygen bed occupancy was 30 per cent in the third wave as compared to in the first wave. He also said that most major cities were using ventilators at 80 per cent capacity.

"About 90 per cent of an oxygen supply chain is being used," Umar warned, adding that these numbers would only increase and put more pressure on the country's healthcare system if people do not come to terms with the seriousness of the situation.

Earlier today, Pakistan recorded 5,499 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, taking the country's Covid-19 tally to 772,381.

According to the NCOC, the country's death toll climbed to 16,600 after 147 people succumbed to the deadly disease during the last 24 hours. Most deaths occurred in Punjab followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (K-P).

Meanwhile, 5,488 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking the total recoveries to 672,619.

According to the NCOC, the total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 83,162.

 

[PakLFC]

Zaid Hamid is saying Covid is not as serious as we are being told. According to him it is mostly just a normal flu being put forward by the world's secret elite to further their satanic agenda. I tried to go through my laptop to take care off him.

 

[MenInG]

<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-partner="tweetdeck"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">PIA is all set to become the first airline in the region to fly with all vaccinated cabin & cockpit crew, followed by front line workers for the health and safety of our crew & customers. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PIA?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PIA</a> strictly adheres to all the prevalent <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/COVID19?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#COVID19</a> precautionary measures <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Inthistogether?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#Inthistogether</a> <a href="https://t.co/SrZh31TOex">pic.twitter.com/SrZh31TOex</a></p>— PIA (@Official_PIA) <a href="https://twitter.com/Official_PIA/status/1385202806697701379?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">April 22, 2021</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.geo.tv/latest/346733-complete-lockdown-expected-in-cities-with-10-coronavirus-positivity-ratio-sources

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday had a meeting with the Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar and the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan to review the ongoing coronavirus situation in the country.

During the meeting, the PM was given a detailed briefing on the situation after which he called a meeting of the National Coordinating Committee for Coronavirus on Friday, April 23 at 12pm, sources said.

All four province's chief ministers and chief secretaries will attend the meeting, sources said, adding the session would review the countrywide coronavirus situation.

Sources said a complete lockdown might be imposed in cities where the rate of coronavirus positivity has exceeded 10%. If a full lockdown is imposed, business activities in designated cities will be suspended, while all offices will also be closed, the source said, adding the final approval for the imposition of the lockdown will be given by the National Command Operation Centre.

As of April 22, Pakistan saw 5,857 new cases of coronavirus along with 98 deaths. The current positivity ratio has been recorded at 10.17%, while at present, there are 84,935 active cases in the country. Since the outbreak of coronavirus in February 2020, Pakistan has recorded 778,238 cases out of which 676,605 patients have successfully recovered. Meanwhile, 16,698 people have so far succumbed to the disease.

 

[Nadeemp]

Zaid Hamid is saying Covid is not as serious as we are being told. According to him it is mostly just a normal flu being put forward by the world's secret elite to further their satanic agenda. I tried to go through my laptop to take care off him.

What satanic agenda

 

[finalfantasy7]

is pakistan under smart lockdown through this wave?

if so how is the ruling as in how strick is it , as this 2nd wave will be larger - any predictions on when they believe it will go down?

 

[PakLFC]

What satanic agenda

Illuminati taking over the world.

 

[mazkhan]

Pakistan wouldn't even had a covid problem if the government had controlled the afghan and Iranian borders it was Shia pilgrims who escaped and spread it from iran , alongside British expats coming back to pakistan for holidays and infecting the locals.

Ours is a simple case of none secure borders and preventing people from highly infected countries coming

I just hope imran khan doesn't allow pilgrims from India the Sikh yatris because cant afford their super mutant variants.

 

[pillionrider]

Pakistan wouldn't even had a covid problem if the government had controlled the afghan and Iranian borders it was Shia pilgrims who escaped and spread it from iran , alongside British expats coming back to pakistan for holidays and infecting the locals.

The closed lalaland where you live is the only place where a country can imagine securing its borders enough to prevent the entry of the virus.

I just hope imran khan doesn't allow pilgrims from India the Sikh yatris because cant afford their super mutant variants.

It's turned out to be the opposite my secure friend.

Two Hundred Sikh pilgrims from among 800 who went to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi have tested positive for coronavirus on their return, officials have said.
The Sikh devotees from India had gone to Lahore's Gurdwara Panja Sahib on the last day of Baisakhi. Officials said 200 of them have tested positive after they took a rapid antigen test.

Now, some of them who have returned to Amritsar will be tested using the more accurate RT-PCR method, officials have said.

https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/100...n-return-from-pakistan-after-baisakhi-2419594

 

[PakLFC]

Pak needs to be very careful here. If another lockdown means saving lives then it needs to be done. Just look at what is happening across the border.

 

[Last Monetarist]

https://www.dawn.com/news/1621237/pakistan-coping-with-increase-in-critical-covid-patients-next-few-weeks-crucial-asad-umar

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said on Friday that Pakistan has so far managed to cope with the increase in critical care Covid-19 patients by proactively building the capacity of the entire system.

In a series of tweets, the federal minister said that the total number of critical care patients who were being provided oxygen had reached 5,360 on Thursday.

"This is a 57 per cent more than the peak in June 2020," he said, adding that so far this increase had been handled due to "proactively building capacity of the entire system from oxygen production to beds".

"Total oxygen production operational capacity in Pakistan last year was 487 tonnes per day. It has been increased to 798 tonnes," said Umar, adding that actual production had increased from 465 tonnes last June to 725 tonnes currently.

"We also imported 19,200 oxygen cylinders last year to ensure distribution."

He stated that because of the steps taken by the federal and provincial governments the tight oxygen supply situation seen last June was not being witnessed again, despite an increase of more than 2,000 critical patients requiring oxygen compared to the previous peak in June.

"Continuing to build [oxygen] capacity, in yesterday's National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) [session] it was decided to import 6,000 tonnes of oxygen, 5,000 cylinders and 20 cryogenic tanks."

The federal minister stated that this "proactive decision-making" had helped Pakistan avoid the kind of situation being witnessed in other countries. "[The] bedrock of this proactive decision-making has been a data-based forward-looking analytical approach, [a] nationally coordinated effort with a whole of the nation approach and [the] hard work of dedicated teams who have continued to steer the effort through this difficult challenge."

However, he cautioned that the "challenge is not over and is in fact is continuing to increase".

He added that the need for following precautions and Covid-19 standard operating procedures was "vital at this point in time" and the next few weeks were "critical".

"No system can cope if we allow the disease to spread rapidly." On Thursday, the NCOC had also decided to shut down the scrap industry of Misri Shah so that oxygen could be diverted to the healthcare sector instead.

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan had said on Tuesday that a special NCOC committee was monitoring the oxygen situation in the country and trying to improve it. Asking the public to "trust" decisions taken by the NCOC, he had said the forum was working to increase the capacity of hospitals.

"Existing oxygen plants are being monitored and we are looking at additional plants. The [Pakistan] Steel Mills plant was also talked about so it is being looked at. We have also diverted [oxygen supply] from non-essential industries."

Minister for Energy Hammad Azhar had also said the government was "exploring all options" to arrange additional supplies of oxygen for the country. Azhar had said in a tweet that the ministry of industries had started working with private oxygen manufacturers to enhance production capacity after the pandemic's first wave last year.