Pakistani cab drivers are providing free transportation to health workers fighting against COVID-19 in Spain. According to a report by DW Urdu, over 150 Pakistani cab drivers are part of the initiative. Nadia Jamil had previously shared how the drivers are getting in touch with the medical staff to help them out. The cab drivers are carrying on the initiative in numerous cities.
Stars of the famous sitcom ‘Friends’ record secret 90-minute special episode after the reunion was deferred due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Courteney Cox, who plays Monica Gellar on the show, filmed a ‘mock rehearsal’ along with director Ben Winston, over the live video- conferencing application Zoom. It was revealed further that the special episode will be released prior to airing of the reunion that has now been stalled.
A total of 13 areas in Lahore have been sealed because they have reported a higher number of coronavirus cases. Raiwind had already been sealed and 12 other areas were sealed Saturday. These are Sikandria Colony, Bhatta Chowk, Bedian Road, China Scheme, Mughalpura, Samnabad, Shahdara, Small Industries, Bahria Town and some areas in Saddar, Gulshan-e-Ravi and Rustam Park.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked eight mobile phone numbers over Ehsaas programme fraud. Many people filed a complaint with the PTA that they received messages from these numbers asking for their details to register for the Ehsaas Emergency Cash programme. The PTA has sent these numbers to the FIA to investigate who is behind these scams.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned countries about the dangers of premature lifting of coronavirus restrictions. WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus told a press conference that lifting restrictions could lead to a deadly resurgence. He added that there had been a slow of epidemics European countries but there had been an alarming acceleration elsewhere including Africa.
TikTok, the fast-growing mobile video app, pledged Thursday to contribute $250 million to coronavirus relief efforts around the world. The funds would be for front line medical workers, educators, and local communities deeply affected by the global crisis. The move follows similar announcements from technology firms including Google, Facebook and Netflix as well as from leaders of Microsoft, Amazon and Twitter.
Health experts at the Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, discovered that certain variants of human genes resist against coronavirus. The study published in the Journal of Medical Virology states that 2 variants of ACE2 (Angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 gene) i.e. S19P and E329G might make an individual resistant to COVID-19. The experts analysed genome data of more than 1000 patients hailing from china and found that the patients had both the variants in extremely small quantities.
The Out-Patient Departments (OPDs) of all major hospitals in Peshawar remained closed despite orders by the Supreme Court. According to residents, all entry spots leading to the OPD at Lady Reading Hospital were blocked with tents. The management of the hospital said that they decided to keep the OPDs closed as they had multiple coronavirus patients.
Newborns infected with the coronavirus don’t show symptoms and can be a danger to people near them. Babies can become carriers of the virus especially in the maternity unit of the medical facility where the baby is delivered. Neurologist Dr Shabbir Ahmed Malik asked to stay safe and warned to take extra precautions to prevent the spread of this virus in newborn babies.
Prince Harry and his wife, former Suits star Meghan Markle shared that they will launch a new charitable organisation called Archewell, according to Vogue. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, who have moved to the US, said that the name of their project was inspired by the Greek word, Arche, which means action. It is also the name of their first-born Archie Mountbatten-Windsor.