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Tag: coronavirus

  • Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui are going into self-isolation together

    Humayun Saeed and Adnan Siddiqui, who were recently in the United States of America for Meray Paas Tum Ho ‘Meet and Greets’, are self-quarantining themselves upon their return home.

    In a Twitter exchange with Vasay Chaudhry, Humayun said that instead of going home, he and Adnan [Siddiqui] will self-isolate for a few days.

    Vasay wished his friend luck.

    With more than 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Pakistan, the government and health experts are requesting people to practise social distancing and self-isolation in order to control the spread of the highly contagious virus. Many companies have allowed their staff to work from home and large gatherings have been strictly prohibited.

  • VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    VIDEO: President wants a ‘volunteer force’ to fight coronavirus in Pakistan

    Urging the nation to show unity in the persisting difficult time, President Dr Arif Alvi has stressed the need to form a China-like volunteer force in Pakistan to fight the new coronavirus.

    President Alvi, in a video message, said China has fought the coronavirus pandemic on the national-level and formed a force of volunteers which was also needed in Pakistan.

    He said that people must unite to face the challenge instead of panicking, and asked clerics to raise awareness regarding COVID-19. The president also asked media houses to play their role in spreading awareness so that people adopt prevention measures.

    WATCH VIDEO:

    The president said that China was facing isolation and extreme criticism from the West over the spread of coronavirus, but, he added, the Chinese leadership has appreciated Pakistan for exhibiting full confidence in Beijing and not bringing back students.

    He admitted that the Pakistani students, who had shown concerns over not being repatriated from China, studying in 15 different universities in the virus-hit country had also now changed their opinion after being looked after by Chinese authorities in a better way.

    “I have thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping over taking good care of them [Pakistani students in Wuhan/Hubei].”

    He also said the Chinese exhibited great resilience and unity against COVID-19 pandemic and Pakistan should learn from their experience to combat the disease.

    The president added that during his trip to the erstwhile epicentre of the virus, he held hours-long discussions with the Chinese leadership over effective measures adopted by Beijing to contain COVID-19.

  • What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    What happens when you test for coronavirus?

    Thousands of people every day are being tested for coronavirus across the globe. But what does that testing entail? Do patients need to supply urine or blood samples for the diagnosis or a simple swab with suffice?

    Experts say the testing process is quite simple and quick. Patients have a swab – think of it as a long Q-tip – inserted through their nose or throat. The nose and the back of the throat are the two sites where the virus replicates. The swabs pick up those cells where the virus might be.

    Once the sample is taken, it is put into a sterile container and sent to a lab, where a chemical is used to pull the cells off the swab and turn the sample into a liquid form.

    That liquid is then put into a machine that goes through hot and cold cycles to make multiple copies of the virus’ ribonucleic acid (RNA), which carries genetic information. The machine looks to match the person’s RNA with the coronavirus RNA to determine a positive or negative result.

    Read more – Where to get yourself tested for coronavirus in Pakistan

    Who should get the test?

    Only people who have recent travel history (or contact with someone who traveled) or have symptoms like cough or fever.

    CHECKLIST: Do you have Coronavirus?

    When to get the test?

    The test turns positive 5-7 days after exposure. So if someone has travelled recently, please practise social distancing if you can’t self-quarantine. And definitely stay away from your elders who are at the highest risk from the illness. Wait a few days before getting the test.

    For live updates on the coronavirus, follow our The Current’s live blog here.

  • ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai?’ Dawn quotes CM Buzdar as asking experts

    With the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — making its way to Punjab and leaving at least 33 infected, people are criticising the Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Usman Buzdar-led administration for “lagging behind other provinces” such as Sindh where strict measures are being taken by the provincial government to contain the pandemic.

    Amid accusations of what people say is the “inability” of the Punjab government to take the global pandemic seriously, Dawn has quoted CM Buzdar as asking experts that “how does coronavirus bite”.

    LIVE UPDATES: Coronavirus in Pakistan

    “A few days ago Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar received a detailed briefing on coronavirus from relevant experts and officials. The purpose was to provide him all the information he required as the chief executive of the largest province, so he could make the right decisions. At the end of the briefing, the chief minister asked a question innocently: ‘Yeh corona kaat-ta kaisay hai? (how does this corona bite)?’,” the report by the English daily’s resident editor, Fahd Husain, claimed.

    It further said that “nothing could better illustrate the state of affairs in Punjab today than this simple question asked by the head of the province about a crisis that has nothing simple about it”.

    READ MORE: Coronavirus: Is Buzdar administration failing Punjab?

    “The gap between the magnitude of the challenge that COVID-19 has thrown and the scale of the response so far is wider than anyone would like to imagine. The reasons are far more numerous than the capacity issues of one provincial chief minister,” the report said.

    While the national tally of infections for now stands at 302 with at least two fatalities, globally, 158 countries have been affected, nearly 7,000 people have died and more than 190,000 are infected by COVID-19.

    The epicentre of the outbreak has now shifted to Europe, which is recording a rapid rise in new cases every day.

  • CJP slams Imran govt for failing to contain coronavirus at border

    Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Gulzar Ahmed has criticised the Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan-led federal government for its inability to contain the new coronavirus — COVID-19 — at the border, leading to an outbreak in the country.

    The total number of COVID-19 cases stands at 296 in the country with 208 cases in Sindh while Punjab has 28, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa reported 19, Balochistan has 23, Islamabad two, Gilgit-Baltistan 14 and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir. Meanwhile, two patients were confirmed to have died in KP on Wednesday, making them the first cases of death due to the deadly virus in Pakistan.

    The CJP was referring to the pilgrim influx from Iran through the Taftan border. Almost half of the Zaireen, who are kept at a largely mismanaged tent city at the border, have tested positive for the virus.

    “The coronavirus came from abroad through the airports due to PIA and the government’s incompetence,” remarked CJP. He noted that the coronavirus is now being talked about everywhere in the country.

    “If security remains like this, then I do not know what kind of new diseases will be introduced to the country [in the future],” remarked the CJP.

    The top judge was also irked by the National Security Committee’s (NSC) request to adjourn civil cases and instruct magistrates and sessions judges to conduct hearings at prisons for three weeks.

    He observed that the authorities had not made arrangements to minimise the risk instead asked the judges to suspend judicial work.

    The CJP made the remarks while hearing a plea filed by Air Marshal Arshad Malik seeking a stay against the Sindh High Court’s December 2019, order restraining him from working as the chief executive officer of the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA).

    The SC allowed Malik to continue performing his duties as the head of the national carrier.

    During the hearing, the CJP asked the government to explain a single good thing that happened in the national airline.

    “PIA is playing with the lives of the people,” CJP Ahmed complained.

    However, Attorney General of Pakistan Khalid Jawed defended Malik and described him as a competent person. He added that, God-willing, Malik would take the PIA forward. However, the CJP interjected and told the government lawyer that work cannot be done by merely uttering “By the grace of God”, “God-willing” and “Thanks be to God”.

    Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan also criticised the government, saying that the court knows that a lot of lobbies were working against the airline.

    “There are lobbies inside PIA who do not want it to work,” remarked the judge. He also suggested that the air marshal implement those decisions which a political government cannot.

    “If actions had already been taken, the airline would not have been in its present state,” Justice Ahsan said.

    To this, the AGP replied that if Arshad Malik is allowed to work as the CEO, he will take all those actions. He added that whenever the court will say that Malik has to go, he will go.

  • Twitter in the time of corona

    Twitter in the time of corona

    On March 16, Brooklyn-based author Isaac Fitzgerald tweeted a question to his followers on Twitter asking them to share the object in their home that holds the most significance.

    Fitzgerald has been in self-quarantine as a precaution due to recent travel.

    He asked Twitter: “What’s the object in your home that means the most to you?” He posted a picture of the sword hanging above his desk, which he says was given to him by the King of Bhutan.

    The responses he got were quite interesting. Hundreds of responses poured in: a teacup that belonged to someone’s grandmother. A portrait of a woman’s mother, painted by her 16-year-old son. A World War II lighter that belonged to the grandfather one man had never met.

    https://twitter.com/nick_ramsey/status/1239622462171688961?s=20
    https://twitter.com/SarahThyre/status/1239568870349799425?s=20
    https://twitter.com/stacy_reading/status/1239569755918532608?s=20
    https://twitter.com/RZAgent/status/1239635542859558927?s=20
    https://twitter.com/ca_london/status/1239890632715501571?s=20

    Fitzgerald says that in a time of social distancing, social media has allowed a new level of sharing stories and memories with each other. “Hopefully some folks took a little comfort in realising the simple fact that their homes are filled with beloved objects,” he said.

  • Tennis star helps Romania fight coronavirus

    Tennis star helps Romania fight coronavirus

    Former Wimbledon champion Simona Halep has said she has decided to donate medical equipment in Romania as her native country deals with the coronavirus pandemic.

    “We are so grateful for the bravery of our medical workers at these difficult times. I am committed to helping my country and have decided to donate medical equipment,” Halep said in a tweet. “This is the perfect opportunity to show that we know how to be supportive and responsible with our lives and those around us,” Halep told fans in a video message posted on her official Facebook page.

    “While we are at home, doctors and medical personnel make huge efforts to treat and save each life by exposing themselves for the general good…decided to donate a sum of money for the purchase of the necessary equipment and materials in such situations, the amount that will be directed immediately to the medical authorities in Bucharest and Constanta,” she added.

    “I encourage everyone who can to contribute to the joint efforts to combat this virus. In the meantime, let us all take care of ourselves, be responsible and stay positive!”

    Simina Halep is a Romanian professional tennis player. She has been ranked world No. 1 in singles twice between 2017 and 2019. In total, she has been No. 1 for 64 weeks, which ranks tenth in the history of the Women’s Tennis Association rankings. Halep was the year-end No. 1 in 2017 and 2018.

    Over 200 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in Romania so far.

  • Woman discovers she has been washing her hands with cheese

    Woman discovers she has been washing her hands with cheese

    A woman in the US accidentally washed her hands with a block of cheese for days after mistakenly thinking it was a bar of soap.

    Miley from Vancouver, Washington, became confused after realising her soap wasn’t foaming as usual, before she discovered it was in fact a lump of cheddar. She was trying to do her bit to stop the spread of coronavirus by thoroughly washing her hands with a bar of soap.

    Unfortunately, she instead succeeded in spreading some rather mature looking cheddar on her hands over the course of several days.

    Sharing her sorry tale on Reddit, Miley explained how the cheese ended up being mistaken for a bit of soap after it was left out of the fridge following a drunken late-night snack.

    Waking the next morning, she assumed that the lump was the remnants of a bar of soap. She also was keen to stress that she does actually keep a bar of yellow, unscented soap nearby for such use with the two evidently getting mixed up.

    “Just realised my soap wasn’t working because it’s literally a block of cheese,” she wrote.

    “I use a liquid soap for the dishes, bar soap like this is gentler on my hands after I do chores if that makes any sense [sic].”

    “It was a couple days of ‘Why isn’t this foaming?!’

    “I come to realise it was a dried-out square of Tillamook sharp cheddar cheese. I suspect I left it out when I was intoxicated and just forgot.”

  • R-rated ‘Fifty Shades Freed’ number 1 on Netflix Pakistan

    The third and final installment of the Fifty Shades film trilogy 50 Shades Freed is trending at number one on Netflix Pakistan as citizens of the country practise social distancing and self-isolation amidst the coronavirus pandemic.

    As of late, Netflix has started sharing a list of ‘Top 10’ movies or seasons which are trending in different countries. According to a blog post from the company, the Top 10 row will be updated every day with “the most popular titles within a subscriber’s country, and the position of the row will also change depending on how relevant the shows and movies in the list are to their interests.”

    Subscribers can also get an even better sense of what’s trending by clicking on the individual movies and TV shows tabs to get top 10 lists for each respective category.

    Fifty Shades Freed is a 2018 American erotic romantic drama film based on E. L. James’s 2012 novel of the same name. It is the third and final installment in the Fifty Shades film trilogy, following Fifty Shades of Grey (2015) and Fifty Shades Darker (2017). The film stars Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan as Anastasia Steele and Christian Grey, respectively, and follows the couple as they marry, and deal with Ana’s former boss, who begins to stalk them.

  • Coronavirus: Mahira Khan reminds us ‘we’re all in this together’

    Coronavirus: Mahira Khan reminds us ‘we’re all in this together’

    With the spread of coronavirus creating panic among the people are causing anxiety, Mahira Khan, took to social media to calm her followers are remind them that “we’re all in this together.”

    She also urged her followers to protect themselves and others.

    https://www.instagram.com/p/B94GvEzBbef/

    Earlier, the actor had urged her followers to practise self-isolation as much as possible.

    Cases of coronavirus have crossed 250 in Pakistan.