Pakistan has reported more than 700 coronavirus cases for the first time in more than a month. 722 cases were reported in the country on September 17. of which 95 were reported in Punjab, 307 in Sindh, 57 in KP, 193 in Balochistan, 10 in AJK, 39 in GB and 21 were reported in Islamabad. The last time the country recorded more than 700 cases was on August 12 when 711 cases were reported over 24 hours.
Thirteen educational institutions were closed down across the country in the last 24 hours for disregarding health guidelines and standard operating procedures (SOPs) laid down by the government. According to a statement by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 10 educational institutions were shut down in Khyber Pakhutnkhwa while three were closed in Sindh for “non-compliance of health guidelines and protocols and disease prevalence”.
Coronavirus vaccines being developed in China may be ready for use by the general public as early as November, an official with the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said. China has four Covid-19 vaccines in final stage of clinical trials. At least three of those have already been offered to essential workers under an emergency use programme launched in July.
Prime Minister Imran Khan has topped the list of politician across the globe for successfully fighting the impact of COVID-19 in the country. The list released by the British news outlet, Asian World, ranked Prime Minister Imran Khan at the top for launching a relief fund for those who were made jobless due to the current pandemics.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) said Pakistan was among countries from whom the international community should learn how to deal with Covid-19 pandemic. WHO Director General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in a media briefing said Pakistan deployed the infrastructure built up over many years for polio to combat Covid-19. Tedros named Pakistan among seven other countries as examples for international community to follow.
A recent study conducted in 25 cities shows that almost 11 per cent of Pakistanis have already developed protective immunity against the coronavirus. The “National Seroprevalence Study” which was initiated in July this year by the Health Services Academy revealed that the population of urban areas and people up to middle age are more protected against the disease.
PML-N supremo, Nawaz Sharif’s latest medical report submitted to Lahore High Court states that the former prime minister should avoid going outside due to coronavirus pandemic. The medical reports were submitted by his lawyer Amjad Pervez in which doctors have suggested that Sharif should avoid going outside as he could contract the coronavirus which could prove to be fatal for him.
Punjab government has announced that it is imposing a ‘smart lockdown’, effective from midnight tonight till August 5, in an effort to curb spread of coronavirus during Eidul Azha. The step comes as Punjab reported zero deaths for the first time in two months. The official daily tally of confirmed Covid-19 cases in Punjab has remained below 500 over last week.
The All Pakistan Private Schools’ Association has threatened the government for opposing its decision to open schools from August 15, stating if they started a campaign the “government would fall”. “If the government tries to interfere in our matters, we will do a million march,” the association’s head warned at a press conference in Islamabad.
Eighty-five infants under age 1 have tested positive for coronavirus in one Texas county since mid-March. In Nueces County number of new coronavirus cases skyrocketed in July after a flattening trend. The virus has infected dozens of babies and local officials are urging people to practice caution.The spokespersons are using the statistic to illustrate that no one is naturally immune to this virus.