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Category: Politics

  • PSL Player Alex Hales clarifies reports that he has coronavirus

    PSL Player Alex Hales clarifies reports that he has coronavirus

    After reports that Karachi King’s player Alex Hales was being tested for coronavirus, the English player has issued a statement clarifying that he has not been tested yet for the virus but is expected to be tested soon. He says that he left Pakistan healthy but woke up with a fever and a cough and has been in self isolation since then.

    READ MORE: CM Buzdar rubbishes reports of first COVID-19 death, says deceased tested negative

    Alex Hales’ statement

    The statement comes after rumours that Alex Hales had tested positive for coronavirus, which he addressed on Twitter. After journalist Ajmal Jami tweeted a Gulf News story that Hales had tested positive for coronavirus, Hales replied to Jami’s tweet, which Jami later deleted.

    https://twitter.com/AlexHales1/status/1239872849155940352
    Alex Hales responds to Jami

    After Hales’ tweet, Jami clarified his tweet on Gulf News’ story.

    RELATED: ALL CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

    Earlier, Ramiz Raja had confirmed that Hales was being tested for the virus but later clarified on twitter that Hales was in self quarantine.

    Ramiz Raja confirms that Hales is being tested for the virus

  • CM Buzdar rubbishes reports of first COVID-19 death, says deceased tested negative

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Sardar Usman Buzdar has rubbished reports claiming that the individual who passed away at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital was suffering from the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — and marked the first fatality in Pakistan due to the global pandemic.

    Earlier, it was reported that Pakistan’s first death due to coronavirus had been reported in Lahore. Reports that had come following a viral video that showed the deceased being brought out of the hospital in a coffin by staff in hazmat suits, had not drawn any official statements except Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid saying that results of the patient’s coronavirus test were still awaited.

    A private media outlet had, however, quoted health officials as saying that the patient “did die due to coronavirus”.

    “We have received test reports of Imran Ali, who lost his life in Mayo Hospital, and his cause of death was not #COVID19. So far Punjab has 8 confirmed cases and are being provided best available treatment [sic],” Buzdar tweeted later in the day.

    He further urged everyone “to act responsibly” in these testing times.

  • VIDEO: Watch Usman Buzdar protect himself from coronavirus

    Chief Minister Buzdar has recently been tweeting about the pandemic and what Punjab is doing to control its spread. The largest province has eerily been silent on the issue, confirming only six cases compared to Sindh’s 155 cases and the CM has faced much criticism for keeping quiet on the issue. The government has yet to confirm whether a suspected coronavirus case has died this morning in Mayo hospital.

    READ MORE: VIDEO: Suspected coronavirus patient at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital passes away

    Admist the confusion, CM Buzdar was recently seen protecting himself from the virus by getting his temperature checked and also using hand sanitizer to promote safety.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    CM Buzdar getting his temperature checked and using hand sanitizer

    RELATED: All the coronavirus updates you need to know

    Punjab has yet to reveal how they are controlling the spread of the pandemic or how they have managed to control it since only six cases have emerged in the province.

  • Army medical facilities “geared up” to deal with pandemic

    Army medical facilities “geared up” to deal with pandemic

    The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has released a statement saying that, “as part of the national effort and in line with the decisions of the National Security Committee taken on 13 March, all medical facilities of the Armed Forces are operationalised and geared up to meet any eventuality to deal with pandemic”.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus: PM wants rich countries to waive off Pakistan, other poor countries’ loans

    They also stated that coronavirus testing labs have been established at major military hospitals across the country and a central testing lab at the Armed Forces institute of Pathology. A coronavirus help desk has been established at each military hospital for fast track checking.

    RELATED: CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    “Armed Forces of Pakistan are fully involved in assisting the government and provincial administrations to tackle the situation since the outbreak and duly vigilant of the developing situation post COVID-19,” said the statement and that the Chief of Army Staff has directed all commanders to take “maximum necessary measures to assist civil administration for safety”.

    READ MORE: ALL CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

    Meanwhile, in an interview to a foreign media outlet, Prime Minister Imran Khan has predicted that the novel coronavirus would destroy the economy of developing countries. 

    “In case we get swamped by this virus, our health facilities will not be able to cope with it,” he added.

    He also urged the United States (US) to lift sanctions over Iran as they were in a terrible state due to the pandemic and the sanctions had already impoverished Tehran.

    Pakistan has a total of 193 confirmed cases with the highest number of cases in Sindh at 155 and the lowest in Punjab with two.

  • Coronavirus: PM wants rich countries to waive off Pakistan, other poor countries’ loans

    Coronavirus: PM wants rich countries to waive off Pakistan, other poor countries’ loans

    Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has said that rich countries should waive off the loans of poor countries in order to help the latter curb spread of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — that has become a global pandemic.

    In an interview to a foreign media outlet, the premier predicted that the novel coronavirus would destroy the economy of developing countries. 

    “In case we get swamped by this virus, our health facilities will not be able to cope with it,” he added.

    He also urged the United States (US) to lift sanctions over Iran as they were in a terrible state due to the pandemic and the sanctions had already impoverished Tehran.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    To a question, PM Imran regretted Afghan President Ashraf Ghani’s statement about Taliban. “Solution to the Afghan conflict lies in talks between the shareholders.”

    He said after coming to power, his government had worked on the Afghan Peace Deal with the US and Pakistan was an ally of the US for peace as he had always opposed Islamabad’s inclusion in the war against terror.

    “An extremist government is ruling over India and I have apprised the United Nations (UN) about the grave rights violations of Muslims in India by the Modi government,” he said.

  • CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    Feeling sick and panicking that it might be coronavirus? Here is the checklist that can show whether you have the virus or the common flu.

    RELATED: ALL CORONAVIRUS UPDATES

    RELATED: VIDEO: Coronavirus patient at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital passes away

    There are 193 confirmed cases in Pakistan of coronavirus.

  • Karachi King’s Alex Hales being tested for coronavirus

    PSL’s Karachi King’s player Alex Hales is being tested for coronavirus, confirms Rameez Raja. He showed symptoms of the virus after he reached England and is currently in isolation. All the broadcasters and cricketer affiliated with the PSL will have to undergo coronavirus tests before heading home – whether that is in Pakistan or outside of it.

    The final matches of the PSL were postponed indefinitely amidst the coronavirus crisis.

    Raja confirms the news and also says that he and other members of the PSL are being tested for the virus. Earlier, Geo Reporter Arfa Feroz Zake had confirmed the news.

    The total cases of the coronavirus in Pakistan has hit 193.

  • VIDEO: Suspected coronavirus patient at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital passes away

    VIDEO: Suspected coronavirus patient at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital passes away

    FOLLOW THIS LINK FOR AN UPDATED VERSION OF THE STORY WITH PUNJAB CM’S STATEMENT

    A suspected patient of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — on Tuesday passed away at Lahore’s Mayo Hospital where he was under treatment since developing symptoms following his return from Iran.

    While some reports quote official sources as saying that the patient tested positive for the virus — marking the first fatality in Pakistan due to the global pandemic, others contradict the claim, saying the patient died of liver failure.

    An official confirmation of the circumstances surrounding the suspected coronavirus patient’s death was tweeted by Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar later in the day.

    A video available with The Current showed the deceased being brought out of the hospital in a coffin by staff in hazmat suits.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The individual had returned from Iran via the Taftan border crossing and spent 14 days in quarantine, reports said.

    While Ministry of National Health Services had earlier reportedly confirmed the death, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said the deceased patient, who was a native of Hafizabad, had been brought to the hospital on Monday night and the results of his tests were still awaited.

    She added that the deceased was not the first and only confirmed patient of the virus in Lahore, who is still in isolation at the same hospital.

    The minister said that the deceased patient’s blood samples were sent for testing while he had been kept in quarantined isolation at Mayo Hospital.

    The deceased had cleared screening upon arriving in the country.

    This was a developing story

  • Coronavirus: SAT exams cancelled

    Coronavirus: SAT exams cancelled

    The College Board has announced that it has cancelled two upcoming SAT exams due to coronavirus concerns.

    Tests scheduled for May and makeup exams for the March have also cancelled and registered students will receive full refunds, the College Board said in a statement.

    A new date has not yet been announced for additional SAT testing opportunities.

    “The College Board will remain focused on student safety and ensuring all students have the tools they need to work, and opportunities to receive the credit they have earned, during this challenging time,” the statement read.

    The news comes as schools nationwide have temporarily shut down over coronavirus alarms. Many colleges and universities have also moved to online classes.

  • PSL 5 postponed indefinitely

    After a foreign player, who had left last week displayed symptoms of the coronavirus, the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has postponed the last few remaining matches of the fifth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL).

    Read more – Karachi King’s Alex Hales being tested for coronavirus

    The knockout matches of PSL were scheduled to be played in Lahore today (Tuesday) – Peshawar Zalmi was scheduled to play against Multan Sultans in the afternoon while Lahore Qalandars was set to face Karachi Kings in the evening. However, the semi-finals and the final have been postponed indefinitely keeping in mind the prevailing situation.

    Addressing a press conference alongside other PCB officials, CEO PCB Wasim Khan said that the decision was taken to ensure the safety of the players, match officials, commentators and ground staff. Though he did not name the player to maintain privacy, Khan said that players from all the teams, the broadcasters and everyone else associated with the tournament would be tested for the virus.

    At least 14 foreign players had decided to return to their own countries last week after the PCB gave them the option to leave amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    In an official statement, the board said, “The PCB, as part of its duty of care, has made arrangements for all the players and players support staff of the four semi-finalists, match officials, franchise owners and production crew to undergo precautionary tests and has strongly advised them to wait for the results prior to undertaking any travel.”

    “This is an unprecedented situation, which is evolving with each passing day. The PCB has closely monitored the situation and had taken precautionary measures including consultation with relevant authorities and temperature screening of players, officials and media on match and non-match days.”

    “The PCB believes it has made the right decisions in the lead up to the postponement of the tournament that included consulting the team owners, holding the matches behind closed doors, allowing the players the option to withdraw from the tournament, rescheduling of the matches and reducing the number of event days,” Khan added.

    While PCB has suspended its all domestic competitions and cricket activities, for now, the PCB chief asserted that the semi-final and final matches would be rescheduled before the next season of the PSL.

    Meanwhile is being reported that Alex Hales of Karachi Kings has shown symptoms of coronavirus and is currently undergoing tests.