Superstars Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, who self-isolated themselves upon their return from the United States, have tested negative for COVID-19.
In a social media update, Humayun shared that his and Adnan’s reports have come back negative and that they will complete their 14 days in quarantine. Hira Mani who was also with them on this trip has also tested negative.
Alhamdulillah our coronavirus reports have come back negative. We will still complete 14 days in quarantine and will be taking every necessary safety precaution even after that. Thanks for all your love and prayers! Stay Safe. Stay Home. #Covid_19#CoronaFreePakistanpic.twitter.com/ZZCbp87San
The duo has been sharing updates on social media as they isolate and have remained connected with their fans.
Self-quarantined ourselves at a hotel after returning from US. Today Adnan Siddiqui & I took the coronavirus test. Will be getting our reports back tomorrow insha Allah. We have no symptoms so far. Was worried a bit about the test but it went smoothly. Praying for evone's safety! pic.twitter.com/AYRntr6OND
The actors also urged their followers to take the novel coronavirus seriously and take all the necessary precautions to save themselves from the highly-contagious disease.
The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Monday announced that banks will provide fit, authenticated and disinfected cash during the coronavirus pandemic.
While there is no conclusive scientific study that links the spread of the current strain of coronavirus to contaminated currency notes, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has advised taking measures to maintain proper hygiene post-handling of notes.
Banks will ensure continuous availability of ATMs 24/7. Also call centers and helplines will be operative 24/7.
“Banks will provide fit, authenticated and disinfected cash. SBP will ensure to clean, disinfect, seal and quarantine all cash being collected from hospitals and clinics and to block circulation of such cash in the market.
”Banks will ensure continuous availability of ATMs 24/7. Also call centers and helplines will be operative 24/7.
”Large scale closure of branches may cause rush and congestion in the operative branches, which may be counterproductive to efforts to contain the spread of the disease. Banks may close branches where the staff is infected and for which requisite human resource is not available.”
Well well time really flies. It has been a year since Mehwish Hayat received the prestigious Tamgha-e-Imtiaz at a grand ceremony at the Aiwan-e-Saddar last March. To commemorate the day, Mehwish decided to relive the moment and shared a short video of herself receiving the award from President Dr Arif Alvi.
Describing the moment as life-changing, Mehwish said that she President Alvi’s words, telling her that he is proud of her, still ring in her head. Mehwish added that the past year has made her stronger and that she shoulders the responsibility that comes with the honour.
“I’ll make sure that I continue to make my country proud,” she further wrote.
2/2 ..made me much stronger & I shoulder the responsibility that comes with the honour. I’ll make sure that I continue to make my country proud. Thank you to all those who have supported me & those that have never failed to remind me each day of this moment. I love you all ! ♥️🇵🇰
Mehwish had received immense flak on social media when she was awarded the Tamgha-e-Imtiaz in March last year. Most people were of the view that she did not deserve it though their views changed after her speech at Oslo, Norway and her strong stance against Bollywood films.
Top tennis stars Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic have sent messages of encouragement while addressing the coronavirus pandemic.
Federer released a social media video as part of a national public campaign, telling people to follow the recommended guidelines.
“I’m also staying home, and I haven’t been shaking anybody’s hands for quite a lot time now,” he said. “I wash my hands very frequently as we’re supposed to, again and again. I believe helping each other is important more now than ever, especially because we want to help the older generation…we need to help them by keeping a distance of two meters and not shake hands.
“We need to take this very seriously.”
Nadal sent a video message in Spanish to health and safety workers.
“I wanted to send a message of thanks to all the doctors, nurses and all the health personnel who are all protecting us, and to the police forces, civil and national guard, the army, and all those who make us feel a little safer, who are in the first line of fire,” Nadal said. “They are our heroes. I want to express my admiration and thank you all.”
He also spoke of the solidarity in Spain, which has been the second-most affected country in Europe.
“There are also positive things in these difficult times. We are demonstrating to be a united people,” he said.
Nadal won the title at Acapulco just before the tour suspension began.
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Novak Djokovic, who had not dropped a match all season, also told his followers to listen to the guidelines.
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“This is a time for us all to get together and unite. Let’s really try to spend quality time with our family at home. Please stay at home in quarantine and help frontline medical people to help the people infected and in need,” he said.
All tour events through the clay season have been postponed or cancelled until June 8. The tours have also announced their decision to freeze the rankings.
Bilaal Avaz, a Pakistani-American singer has managed to clear the first round of American Idol Season 18’s show and is likely to enter the list of top 20 finalists.
As per reports, if Bilal manages to enter the top 20 list, it will be the first time ever in the show’s 18 years that will feature a Pakistani-American.
The list of top finalists has not yet been announced.
The 19-year-old, who was born in a desi family has faced a lot of challenges while pursuing music as a profession. Bilal revealed that initially his family was against his decision of choosing a professional career in the music industry. However, luckily they came around later and are now his biggest fans.
Other potential finalists of the show made it past round one onto Hollywood Week. From there on, top finalists will be selected, slashing the list from top 40 to top 20.
The production of American Idol show has been halted due to the outbreak of coronavirus in the world. In the meantime, the show’s recorded auditions are being aired on television.
Apart from being a superhuman and a phenomenal actor, Ayeza Khan is also a super mum. The actor has never shied away from sharing snippets of her family life with her fans.
Amidst the coronavirus outbreak and the closure of schools, Ayeza shared tips on how to manage kids during this time and how to protect them from the COVID-19.
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She also shared a video of her daughter Hoorain Taimoor washing her hands.
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Ayeza has been actively spreading awareness about the virus and especially on how to educate children about it.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), on a request from the Sindh Government, has agreed to convert its Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre as a temporary living area for paramedic staff working at the makeshift hospital at Expo Centre, Karachi.
In a press release, PCB Chief Operating Officer Salman Naseer said: “All the paramedic staff are our heroes as in these challenging and difficult times, they are risking their lives to save the lives and wellbeing of many affected by COVID-19.”
“As a small token of our appreciation and acknowledgement to these unsung heroes and as part of our duty of care, the PCB is pleased to offer its state-of-the-art Hanif Mohammad High-Performance Centre as temporary lodging and boarding for the paramedic staff working at Expo Centre hospital so that they can serve those suffering from COVID-19 more effectively and efficiently,” he added.
In a rather embarrassing development for the government, the Information Ministry has shared fake claims regarding Chinese help for Pakistan amid the outbreak of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — and later deleted its tweet.
As per the details, the Information Ministry, which is responsible to release government information to the public and international communities, on Sunday in a now-deleted tweet claimed that 200 Chinese doctors had reached Islamabad to help the country fight the coronavirus pandemic.
It also said that China was providing Pakistan with $34 million for treatment of the infected.
The same was tweeted by Radio Pakistan as well.
Since the the national public broadcaster for radio also deleted its tweet, an archived version of it can be viewed here.
Speaking to The Current, an official, on the condition of anonymity, confirmed not only that the two claims were fake, but also that the tweets had been deleted after it was pointed out.
They, however, said that China had given Pakistan $4 million in aid and the claim pertaining to the provision of 300,000 medical face masks besides 10 ventilators was also true.
This was confirmed by Economic Affairs Minister Hammad Azhar as well.
Taking to Twitter, he wrote:
I would like to thank the People's Republic of China for providing grant assistance of USD 4 million along with 300,000 medical face masks, 10 ventilators and other equipment. They have also undertaken to arrange for much greater number of ventilators.
Sindh Education Minister Saeed Ghani tested positive for coronavirus on Monday.
The minister tweeted a video message to reveal that he had tested positive for the virus.
گذشتہ روز میں نے کورونا وائرس کا ٹیسٹ کروایا جسکی رپورٹ مثبت آئی ہے تاحال جو Symptoms اس وائرس کے بتائے جاتے ہیں ان میں سے مجھے کچھ محسوس نہیں ہورہا اور میں خود کو بالکل صحتمند محسوس کررہا ہوں اور اپنی ذمہ داریاں گھر پر isolation میں رہ کر ادا کررہا ہوں۔ شہری بھی گھروں پر رہیں pic.twitter.com/2vzS7qt0SY
“The previous day I got myself tested for the coronavirus and the results came back positive,” he said. “However, I am not feeling any of the symptoms of the virus and feel completely fine.”
In the video message, Ghani went on to advise people he came into contact with a few days ago to isolate themselves and go into quarantine.
“If your health deteriorates further, please get yourselves checked by a doctor,” he said. “I consider it my responsibility to inform people so that those who came into contact with me can also quarantine and self-isolate themselves as I may have transmitted the infection to them.”
Claim: Sana Hashwani of the clothing brand Sana Safinaz has COVID-19
Fact: Sana Safinaz verified through a public announcement on their Instagram that she did not contract the virus
While dealing with the coronavirus pandemic is stressful enough, the misinformation and fake information that comes along with it is even more nerve-wrecking.
Late last week, rumours were doing the rounds that Sana Hashwani, who is the co-owner of the fashion brand Sana Safinaz has been tested positive for the coronavirus. It was also being said that her daughter also has it and that the two attended a party despite knowing.
Below is a screenshot of a message that was being circulated on social media.
screenshot in social media circulation
Following this, the brand posted an official announcement clarifying that the designer did not have the novel coronavirus and urged people not to spread misinformation. Sana’s medical reports were also shared as further proof.
“Sana returned from the UK and took a test as a precaution so as to not endanger family members with compromised immunity,” the statement read. “She has tested negative but nonetheless placed herself under self-isolation as any sensible person returning from abroad should do at this time.”
