Authorities in Kazakhstan have denied a report published by Chinese officials that the country is experiencing an outbreak of “unknown pneumonia” potentially deadlier than the novel coronavirus. The Kazakhstan health ministry said that the “unspecified” pneumonia classification followed World Health Organization guidelines “for the registration of pneumonia when the coronavirus infection is diagnosed clinically or epidemiologically but is not confirmed by laboratory testing.”
Bill Gates has called for Covid-19 drugs and an eventual vaccine to be made available to countries and people that need them most, not to the “highest bidder”. The billionaire philanthropist said that relying on market forces would prolong the deadly pandemic. He stated that leaders needed to make hard decisions about distributing based on equity.
For the 18th consecutive day, testing in Pakistan has registered a reduction after hitting a record-high on June 19, according to the data of the ministry of national health services regulation and coordination. The ministry, which provides daily statistics, noted that on July 7 Pakistan carried out 21,951 tests across the country, which is only 30% of its total testing
The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (Drap) said on Monday that Remdesivir, an effective anti-COVID 19 drug, will be available in the country within three weeks. Drap, after registration of the medicine, had allowed two pharmaceutical companies to import this critical drug. The regulator has given licences to 14 manufacturers for producing the medicine at home.
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shallwani has approved arrangements of collective sacrifice during Eidul Azha with the assistance of non-profit organisations. Shallwani asked the organisations to make arrangements for online booking and dispatching of meat due to the COVID-19 pandemic. People could also obtain their meat from zonal offices of these organisations.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah recently made a shocking revelation stating that Munawar Hasan, Mufti Naeem and Allama Talib Jauhari all had died from coronavirus. The three renowned clerics, all passed away within a week. The clerics were all reported to have died in hospitals while getting treatment for certain health conditions, and thousands of followers attended the funerals.
The Religious Affairs Ministry of Pakistan has decided to return the money of this year’s successful applicants of government’s Hajj scheme. Imran Siddiqui, the ministry’s spokesperson said that an emergency meeting was convened to discuss the mechanism after Saudi Arabia’s plans to host the pilgrimage in closed borders. Only 1000 pilgrims residing in the Kingdom will be allowed to perform Hajj this year.
Saudi Arabia on Tuesday confirmed that only “very limited numbers” of people will be allowed to perform the annual hajj pilgrimage due to Coronavirus fears. The kingdom’s Ministry of Hajj said only people of various nationalities already residing in the country would be allowed to perform the large pilgrimage, which is set to begin this year at the end of July.
Several statistical models, official statements, leaked government documents, and interviews with people in various cities suggest that the number of Coronavirus patients and deaths in Pakistan are grossly under-reported. The actual numbers will be two to three times more than the reported number and health experts worry the lack of accuracy in data collection was misleading people and creating apathy about the disease.
Officials in the Chinese capital, Beijing, have highlighted risk of contamination through packaging. In the city which reported 22 new cases on Friday, nucleic acid tests are being carried out on all food and parcel delivery personnel. Officials have been testing people working in catering, including restaurant staff, as well as imported food after virus was found on chopping boards used to handle salmon.