Two self-taught Pakistani teenagers have developed the world’s first multi-platform game to help fight Covid-19 pandemic. STOP the SPREAD—developed by 13-year-old Nabhan and 14-year-old Kenan— will help bust myths and apply behavioural changes to embrace the “new normal” in an experiential learning simulation game. The kids started working on the game in February 2020, and released it online on April 4, 2020.
Federal Minister for Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry, has announced that the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has approved the first made-in-Pakistan testing kit for Covid-19. The kit was developed by the scientists at National University of Science and Technology (NUST) Attaur Rahman School of Applied Biosciences (ASAB). Fawad shared the news on Twitter and congratulated the developing team.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has undermined the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) statement regarding COVID-19 in Pakistan by saying the organisation is only looking through a “health lens”. Mirza stated government, on the other hand, is pursuing a “holistic strategy to combat the coronavirus”. His remarks came after WHO recommended imposing an “intermittent lockdown” in Pakistan.
Health authorities in New Zealand have said the country has released its final COVID-19 patient from isolation on Monday. The country manage to beat the virus with a strict seven week lock down and stringent travel restrictions. There have been no new infections for 17 days and, until Monday, just one active case for more than a week.
While Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out chances of another countrywide lockdown, Pakistan on Friday witnessed the highest number of cases in last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections to 91,456. A record 5000 new cases and almost 100 deaths were reported, the highest in the country since the first case emerged on February 27th. Total fatalities have now exceeded 1800.
Owing to the outbreak of the Corona pandemic, around three million Pakistanis are expected to go jobless. The findings were submitted by the finance ministry to Senate on Friday. Out of the three million jobs, the industrial sector is likely to lose one million and the remaining two million will be lost in the services sector.
Rapidly and exponentially increasing Coronavirus in Pakistan has surpassed China after reporting almost 5000 cases in last 24 hours. The total number of cases in the country made 83,292 mark against China’s 83,021 cases. So far, there are total 1,729 deaths in the country. As many as 76 new death occurred due to the deadly virus. Almost 30,000 people have recovered from the infectious disease.
As number of Coronovirus patients grow exponentially in Pakistan, veteran actors Rubina Ashraf and Sakina Samo have also tested positive for the infectious disease. The two have isolated themselves and their families are also expected to be tested. Actors such as Nida Yasir, Yasir Nawaz, Alizeh Shah, Naveed Raza and Abrarul Haq have also tested positive for Covid-19.
Rapidly rising COVID-19 cases in Pakistan means the country is headed towards the third phase, known as the ‘Lag Phase,’ claimed Pakistan Infection Control Society president Prof Rafiq Khanani. Lag Phase is characterized by an exponential increase in number of cases. With the public exhibiting constant carelessness towards SOPs and a weak healthcare system, Pakistan would continue to witness severity in the pandemic until September.
Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Yao Jing has said that Beijing is confident that Pakistan will soon overcome the COVID-19 challenge. Ambassador Jing said Pakistan had a lower mortality rate of the virus. About 60% of Pakistan’s population is under the age of 30. Patients infected with the novel coronavirus are mainly young people, with mild symptoms so it is easier to treat them.