A COVID-19 patient in India died after his family disconnected the ventilator to plug in the air cooler to combat the scorching heat.
The Ministry of National Health Services (NHS) on Tuesday announced that plasma therapy should not be considered as a cure for coronavirus. After increase in illegal sale and purchase of convalescent plasma, the ministry warned people about serious side effects of plasma therapy. Since CP is still an experimental therapy, it can only be safely used under controlled settings as part of research protocol.
While spread of the novel Coronavirus has wrecked the economy of Pakistan, certain businesses are booming. Corona patients have strained an already weak healthcare system, however, private hospitals with their better services are taking good advantage of the situation. On the other hand, various media reports suggest an organized mafia in Punjab has been actively minting millions of rupees through sale of blood plasma.
As cases reach new high is Pakistan, the government of Punjab has decided to completely lockdown several areas of Lahore for two weeks. Speaking at a press conference, Punjab Health Minister Yasmin Rashid said that the areas will be under lockdown from midnight Monday. Food stores and pharmacies are to remain open in these areas. The areas to be locked
Former captain of the Pakistan cricket team Shahid Afridi has tested positive for the coronavirus, he revealed in a tweet on Saturday. Afridi said that he had been “feeling unwell since Thursday and his body had been aching badly”. He requested his fan’s prayers for a “speedy recovery”. Cricketers of Pakistani team have also wished Afridi well.
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz spokesperson Marriyum Aurangzeb has tested positive for the coronavirus, party leader Ahsan Iqbal revealed in a Tweet. Aurangzeb’s mother is also reported to have tested positive for the infection. On Monday, Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed and PTIA MNA Jai Prakash, former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi tested positive for coronavirus.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked Pakistan to freeze all major non-development expenditures heads, including salaries and defence, in order to bring down primary deficit. The IMF staff proposed Pakistan to to undertake massive fiscal adjustments of Rs1,150 billion to bring down primary deficit at negative 0.4 percent of GDP for the upcoming budget 2020-21 post COVID-19 pandemic.