There is no shortage of beds, ventilators and medical facilities for COVID-19 patients, said the Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza. He said only 28% of available ventilators are being used for patients with COVID-19, according to Radio Pakistan. The minister added that around 723 patients were in critical condition while 201 of them were on ventilators.
Around 48 Pakistan-made ventilators of different designs have been waiting for approval from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP). DRAP had previously suggested a few changes, including the addition of artificial lungs. Federal Science Minister Fawad Chaudhry has confirmed that the country will begin manufacturing ventilators for commercial purposes from next week.
Pakistani singer-turned-politician Abrar-ul-Haq tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday, as confirmed by him on his social media. The 51-year-old Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf leader turned to his Twitter to confirm the news. He saids that while his COVID-19 test had come out positive, he will still be carrying on with professional duties through video conferencing.
More than 90,000 mosques across Saudi Arabia, except for those in Makkah, will start reopening from May 31 after a two-month closure to curb the COVID-19 spread. According to the Ministry of Islamic Affairs, Call and Guidance, the sanitisation, cleaning and maintenance process of the mosques has been completed. The resumption of services mosques will be carried out in line with the coronavirus mandatory guidelines issued by the ministry.
People who don’t wear masks in Islamabad will be fined Rs3,000 and may also face jail time. A tweet by the office of Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat announced on Sunday that the local administration would be enforcing the rule strictly. Dr Zafar Mirza, the premier’s aide on health, said on Twitter earlier in the day that masks were mandatory for everyone in Pakistan.
Monkeys mobbed a health worker and ran away with coronavirus test blood samples in India’s Meerut. This is spreading fears that the stealing simians could spread the pandemic in the local area. Indian authorities often have to grapple with primates snatching food and even mobile phones. After making off with the three samples, the monkeys scampered up nearby trees and one then tried to chew its plunder.
Pakistan is looking to remove the ban on the export of COVID-19 personal protective equipment (PPE) this week. This will allow local manufacturers to export COVID-19 related material overseas. Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry took to Twitter to announce this. It was also announced that Pakistan has received a large number of orders for face masks from different parts of the world including the US, Canada, and Europe.
Pakistan government is deploying secretive surveillance technology to hunt coronavirus patients and the people they come into contact with. The technology is usually used to locate militants. The government has turned to the powerful Inter-Services Intelligence agency (ISI) for help in tackling the virus. Details about the project have not been released.
Tech giants Apple and Google released an initial version of their software tool that will make it possible for 23 nations to release coronavirus contact-tracing apps. It will alert users when they came into contact with people who were COVID-19 positive. But authorities would have to stop requiring phone numbers from users under the companies’ rules.
Oscars 2021 could be postponed due to the disruption caused by the coronavirus in Hollywood, trade publication Variety reported. The movie industry’s biggest night is currently scheduled for February 28. But with theaters shuttered, blockbusters delayed and productions halted, the prize-giving Academy has already been forced to make significant rules changes. One of multiple anonymous sources told Variety it was now “likely” the ceremony itself will be postponed.