Current Final

Tag: coronavirus

  • Jemima Khan sends love and salaams to Pakistan

    Jemima Khan sends love and salaams to Pakistan

    If there is one person Pakistanis unanimously and wholeheartedly love, it’s Jemima Khan, former wife of Prime Minister Imran Khan.

    Amid the coronavirus crisis which has shaken the entire world, Jemima sent “love and salaams” to Pakistan in a Twitter message.

    Pakistanis were quick to send their love back to her.

    https://twitter.com/SheemaMehkar/status/1246158785380524033?s=20

    Some people couldn’t resist from giving her updates about PM Khan and his efforts.

    https://twitter.com/RamlahSeraj/status/1246141968096387076?s=20

    With more than one million cases of coronavirus across the world, which is currently under lockdown, the situation appears to be dire. The UK is one of the worst-hit countries with 38,168 cases and 3,605 deaths. British PM Boris Johson and Prince Charles were also tested positive for the virus.

    Meanwhile Pakistan has reported 2708 cases and 40 deaths.

  • Did PM Imran just give the corrupt a chance to whiten their black money?

    Did PM Imran just give the corrupt a chance to whiten their black money?

    With Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan offering amnesty for the construction sector, netizens are expressing their “disappointment” at what they say is the premier “flip-flopping on his ideals to hold the corrupt accountable”.

    PM Imran on Friday gave the status of industry to the construction sector, as he announced opening of the sector along with a package of incentives to boost it with a view to keeping the wheels of economy moving and mitigate the impact of the lockdown on people.

    Speaking to reporters after a meeting of the National Command Centre, the PM said the government provided these exemptions to provide employment to the labourers so that they can be saved from “hunger and the coming difficult circumstances”.

    In line with the relief package, the government will not ask construction entities about their source of income for this year as well as approval of a fixed tax regime for the sector.

    The PM said: “This [move] will bring down the amount of tax to be paid. Also, if the investment is for the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, we will exempt 90% of the tax on it.”

    He announced an Rs30bn subsidy for the Naya Pakistan Housing Scheme, saying that on the one hand, it will regulate economic activity and on the other, ensure houses for the poor were also built.

    He also said that withholding tax on materials and services had been abolished in the informal sector. “Tax will be collected only on steel and cement, mainly because these are the formal sectors.”

    Here’s what Twitterati have to say in this regard:

    Meanwhile, some resorted to meme-ing it out:

    What do you think of the incentives announced by the PM? Let The Current know in the comments…

  • Inflation at seven-month low in March

    Inflation at seven-month low in March

    Pakistan’s Consumer Price Index (CPI)-based monthly inflation slowed to 10.24 per cent in March 2020 as compared to the previous month, Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) reported.

    This is the second month in a row that the CPI reading has eased by more than 2 per cent. The bureau had recorded CPI inflation at 12.4 per cent in February. Inflation at 10.2 per cent is the lowest reading in the past seven months.

    According to PBS data, commodity prices remained largely unchanged and markets functioned normally in March despite partial lockdown of the country to control the spread of coronavirus.

    In addition to fuel charges, the prices of food items, including pulses, fresh vegetables and wheat, which have been the main drivers of inflation, also saw a significant downtrend, the bureau said.

    However, it added, the real impact of slash in demand or short supply of commodities due to the shutdown of the market is yet to come.

    “The government’s move to keep the trade of groceries unaffected may support the fall of inflation even in the coming months.”

    The average inflation in the first nine months (July-March) of fiscal year 2020 stood at 11.53 per cent, which in the same period of the last year was 6.3 per cent.

    As per the data, the rate of inflation during the month under review slowed down both in urban and rural areas. Food inflation in urban areas that stood at 15.2 per cent in the preceding month eased to 13 per cent in March. Similarly, in rural areas, the food inflation pace slowed down from 19.7 per cent in February to 15.5 per cent last month.

  • ‘Punjab hospitals cured 18 patients with anti-malaria drug, azithromycin,’ says expert

    Chief executive officer (CEO) of the Mayo Hospital and Corona Experts Advisory Group (CEAG) co-chairperson, Professor Dr Asad Aslam, has said that 18 patients of the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — were successfully treated with anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine and antibiotic azithromycin during the past five days.

    According to reports, Dr Aslam on Thursday said that eight patients at Mayo Hospital, four at Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI) and five at other hospitals of the province were administered the drugs during the past five days.

    “The patients were administered two tablets of hydroxychloroquine in the morning and two in the evening on the first day whereas, on the remaining four days, they were given one tablet in the morning and one in the evening. Simultaneously, they were given one tablet of azithromycin in the morning and one in the evening for five days.”

    He, however, urged people to avoid self-medication and said these medicines should only be used upon a doctor’s prescription because they could have serious side-effects, including hepatotoxicity (drug-induced liver damage), bone marrow suppression and risk of sudden death, especially when used with azithromycin and many other medications that can affect heart rhythm.

    Meanwhile, the Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (MMIDSP) strongly advised against the inappropriate use and hoarding of hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine.

    According to Dawn, they said there was a lack of undisputed scientific evidence and the risk of adverse events. “Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine should only be used as a therapeutic or prophylactic agent for COVID-19, under the supervision of an expert,” read a press release.

    It further said that the anti-malaria drugs were also used to treat immune system disorders.

    “Both these drugs have a new and emerging role in treatment of COVID-19 pneumonia (off-label) and a presumed role in prevention against the infection.”

    Experts associated with MMIDSP include infectious diseases physicians, clinical microbiologists and nurses who are trained in infection prevention and control.

  • Man hides COVID-19 symptoms so he could be with his wife in the labour room

    Man hides COVID-19 symptoms so he could be with his wife in the labour room

    A man who was exposed to the coronavirus hid that he was feeling ill so he could visit his wife in the maternity unit of an upstate New York hospital and be with her when she delivers their child.

    According to NBC, the matter only came to light after his wife also began to show symptoms.

    The hospital staff said that the man was questioned by the staff at the hospital before entering and he assured them that he was in good health and had not been exposed to the coronavirus. However, shortly after giving birth, the woman began to show symptoms.

    “That’s when the significant other admitted his potential exposure and that he was feeling symptomatic,” said a hospital official, adding that they cannot share whether the mother, father or newborn child were infected with the coronavirus because of privacy laws. The mother has since returned home.

    Meanwhile, a nurse who assisted the family was also tested for the virus and the results came back negative.

    Many hospitals in New York are banning most visitors to help control the spread of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus.

    A hospital official said that before they would only ask visitors before allowing them inside, “but now we’re adding the temperature check.”

    “Those with symptoms will be asked to leave the hospital. These screening measures will be completed twice daily throughout the hospitalization,” the hospital said, adding that the guest will not be allowed to leave the patient’s room without the patient.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B-cDZFIH0_x/
  • ‘Shoot them dead’: President Duterte warns against violating coronavirus lockdown

    ‘Shoot them dead’: President Duterte warns against violating coronavirus lockdown

    Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned he would order the country’s police and military to shoot dead anyone “who creates trouble” during a month-long lockdown of the island of Luzon enforced to halt the spread of the coronavirus, France 24 reported.

    “Let this be a warning to all. Follow the government at this time because it is critical that we have order,” he said in a late-night televised national address on Wednesday.

    “And do not harm the health workers, the doctors … because that is a serious crime. My orders to the police and the military, if anyone creates trouble, and their lives are in danger: shoot them dead.”

    “Do not intimidate the government. Do not challenge the government. You will lose,” he added in Filipino and English.

    Duterte’s warning came after residents of a slum in Manila’s Quezon City staged a protest along a highway near their shanty houses, claiming they had not received any food packs and other relief supplies since the lockdown began more than two weeks ago.

    Village security officers and police urged the residents to go back to their homes, but they refused, a police report said.

    Police broke up the protest and arrested 20 people, the report added.

    Health authorities in the Philippines have recorded 2,311 cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus as of Wednesday. At least 96 people have died.

  • Google is helping Pakistan fight coronavirus, here is how.

    Google is helping Pakistan fight coronavirus, here is how.

    According to Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) press release, Google has introduced various features and tools to facilitate the operations of telecommunication networks to promote learning and access to authentic information in Pakistan.

    The platform has given the Pakistani government an ad-inventory to disseminate accurate information on time.

    Moreover, Google has shared tips and resources for remote workers and students so that they can improve the quality of work and ensure productivity.

    Google has allowed free access to advance ‘Google Hangout’ which means the users will be able to put 250 participants on audio and video calls so the entire class can attend lectures. The participants can record the lectures and save it in google drive so when they cannot join, they can access the lectures when needed.

    Google has also launched a speech-based reading app “Bolo” — based on machine learning — to help children read aloud confidently, using their voice. The app is available in the Urdu language as well.

    Apart from these tools and resources, they have ensured measures to combat misinformation. Google has also attached ‘SOS Alert” banner with news from mainstream outlets and information from recognised health organization such as the World health organization (WHO) and National Institute of Health (NIH).

    These hubs provide a comprehensive overview of the pandemic, information about its symptoms and measures, as well as current statistics and answers to common questions.

    These necassary measures taken by the company because search interest in COVID-19 has continued to climb across the world. At present, this is the most researched topic in the world so it is necassary to curb fake news and misinformation.

    In addition to launching new features on the search engine, the platform has rolled out a website—available at google.com/covid19 — focused on education, prevention and local resources.

    People can find state-based information, safety and prevention tips, search trends related to COVID-19, and further resources for individuals, educators and businesses.

  • VIDEO: CM Buzdar wants Punjab to beat the world in introducing coronavirus vaccine

    VIDEO: CM Buzdar wants Punjab to beat the world in introducing coronavirus vaccine

    Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar has said that the province is doing “groundbreaking research” as the global coronavirus pandemic continues to spread and he wants Pakistan to become the first country in the world to introduce vaccination for COVID-19.

    Even the most effective containment strategies have only slowed the spread of the respiratory disease while some 35 companies and academic institutions around the world are racing to create a vaccine that can prevent people from getting sick as COVID-19 leaves around 940,000 people infected globally with at least 47,000 fatalities.

    While the number of confirmed cases in Pakistan stands at 2,252 with at least 32 deaths and 107 recoveries, Buzdar’s Punjab is the worst-hit with 845 infections and Sindh is trailing behind at 709.

    “Pakistan could become the first country to prepare a vaccine for coronavirus with Punjab taking the lead in this regard,” the provincial chief executive said during a press conference in Lahore on Tuesday. “I will assure them [experts] that I will exhaust all available resources for the research.”

    WATCH VIDEO:

    Earlier, the Punjab CM had directed experts to accelerate research activities for the eradication of coronavirus.

    A meeting chaired by the provincial chief executive told that four study groups had been formed and research had been started under the supervision of the University of Health Sciences (UHS).

    CM Buzdar directed the experts to make fruitful efforts to deal with coronavirus as soon as possible. He was informed that a BSL-3 Lab had started working at Jinnah Hospital and Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI).

    The experts briefed the meeting that COVID-19 found in Pakistan was quite different from the coronavirus found in Wuhan and Iran.

  • Britain, France, Germany bypass US sanctions to send medical aid to virus-hit Iran

    Britain, France, Germany bypass US sanctions to send medical aid to virus-hit Iran

    Britain, France and Germany have for the first time used a complex financial system that bypasses United States’ (US) sanctions to send medical aid to Iran, raising hopes of salvaging the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Telegraph reported.

    The German Foreign Ministry said the medical goods were now in Iran and added that the Instex trade mechanism and its Iranian counterpart would now work on more transactions and on enhancing the system.

    Britain, Germany and France had earlier offered a $5.5 million package to Iran to help fight coronavirus there and said they would also send medical material, including equipment for laboratory tests, protective body suits and gloves.

    Washington’s major European allies opposed the decision by US President Donald Trump in 2018 to abandon the nuclear deal, under which international sanctions on Iran were lifted in return for Tehran accepting curbs on its nuclear programme.

    The European trade vehicle was conceived as a way to help match Iranian oil and gas exports against purchases of EU goods. However, those ambitions have been toned down, with diplomats saying that, realistically, it will be used only for smaller trade, for example of humanitarian products or food.

    The three European powers are shareholders in the Instrument In Support Of Trade Exchanges, or Instex, and hope other states will join later.

  • Old woman dies after refusing ventilator, told doctors to ‘keep this for younger’

    Old woman dies after refusing ventilator, told doctors to ‘keep this for younger’

    A 90-year-old coronavirus patient has died in Belgium after selflessly refusing a ventilator and asking doctors to ‘keep this for younger patients’. 

    Suzanne Hoylaerts from Binkom, near Lubbeek, was hospitalised on March 20 when her condition rapidly weakened after contracting COVID-19. 

    Hoylaerts required medical attention after suffering from a lack of appetite and shortness of breath. She was admitted to hospital where she tested positive for the virus and was placed in isolation where even her daughter was unable to visit. 

    She reportedly told doctors at the hospital: ‘I don’t want to use artificial respiration. Save it for younger patients. I already had a good life.’ 

    There is a global shortage of ventilators, an important equipment to fight against the respiratory disease, amid the coronavirus pandemic.

    Hoylaerts passed away two days after she was hospitalised, on March 22. 

    Her distraught daughter Judith told Dutch newspaper: ‘I can’t say goodbye to her, and I don’t even have a chance to attend her funeral.’ 

    Belgium has reported 705 deaths according to the latest official toll.