The novel coronavirus – which wrecked the central China metropolis of Wuhan in direction of the tip of final December – has now unfold to all continents excluding Antarctica. The COVID-19 respiratory sickness attributable to the mysterious pathogen has to date killed 1000’s of individuals and contaminated near half a million others throughout the globe.
Although the lethal infestation has been contained by the Chinese language authorities in Wuhan, the virus has now unfold elsewhere, particularly in Europe and the USA, with the World Well being Organisation declaring Europe as the brand new epicentre of the viral illness.
Pakistan, regardless of its shut proximity with China, remained unscathed till February 26 when a younger man from Karachi examined optimistic for the novel coronavirus. He had returned from Iran – one of many worst-hit international locations.
After a quick pause following the primary case, COVID-19 instances witnessed a pointy surge as extra pilgrims getting back from Iran examined optimistic. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 sufferers has spiked to 1,041 with 413 instances in Sindh; 115 in Balochistan; 296 in Punjab; 117 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa; 84 in Gilgit-Baltistan; 15 in Islamabad; and one in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
Comply with The Specific Tribune’s stay protection of the pandemic right here.
11:15pm: Federal govt reduces working hours for workers
The federal authorities has decreased working hours by two hours in any respect authorities places of work to restrict public contact in a bid to comprise the unfold of the novel coronavirus within the nation.
Authorities places of work will now observe working hours from 10:00am to 4:00pm (Monday – Thursday) and 10:00am to 1:00pm on Fridays.
The brand new timings will come into pressure with fast impact and proceed until April 7, in response to a notification issued by the Cupboard Secretariat Institution Division on Wednesday.
10:45pm: Sindh to offer meals objects to the needy with NGOs’ assist
The Sindh authorities will distribute meals objects among the many needy in the course of the ongoing province-wide lockdown, in collaboration with welfare organisations, stated Provincial Info Minister Nasir Hussain Shah on Wednesday.
The minister stated he had not too long ago chaired a gathering with representatives of varied welfare organisations, together with Edhi Basis, Chhipa, Alamgir Belief and Al Khidmat Basis. All of them shared their methods for distribution of meals objects to the needy throughout this era.
Learn extra right here.
10:30pm: Provide of dairy/poultry merchandise permitted from 5am to 8pm in Sindh
The Sindh authorities has permitted provide, assortment and distribution of newspapers and dairy and poultry merchandise between 5am to 8pm, in response to a notification issued by the provincial residence division on Wednesday.
10:15pm: Coronavirus worries take toll on thalassaemia sufferers
The worry of the unfold of coronavirus and the containment measures being taken within the type of a lockdown in Sindh have began to take a toll on thalassaemia sufferers, with a lot of them being disadvantaged of routine transfusions as a result of a blood scarcity.
“A dangerous situation is developing in Nawabshah Thalassaemia Centre,” revealed Prof Dr Sadiq Siyal, who’s in control of the centre. “The blood supplies here will finish in two or three days. After that, if new donors don’t turn up, we will end up utilising all our stocks.”
In response to Dr Siyal, as many as 1,400 sufferers from 15 districts of Sindh are registered on the centre, with one other 300 sufferers whose registration is being delayed as a result of capability limitations.
“The lives of all our registered patients will be at stake if blood donations are not received in adequate numbers,” he said.
Learn extra right here.
9:45pm: Sindh govt green-lights buy of ventilators, testing kits, and so on
Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah has accepted the acquisition of ventilators and protecting and testing tools for coronavirus, because the COVID-19 tally climbed previous 400 within the province.
Presiding over a coronavirus taskforce assembly, the CM agreed to the acquisition of 290 ventilators, 3.2 million objects of private protecting tools (PPE), 100 fast equipment antigen testing machines and 100,00zero testing kits, 50 RT-LAMP testing machines and 10,00zero RT-LAMP testing kits and 29 transportable X-ray machines, aiming to boost Sindh’s testing capability.
Learn extra right here.
9:15pm: Suspected COVID-19 sufferers ‘being turned away by hospitals in Karachi’
Over a dozen suspected coronavirus sufferers from throughout town had been denied entry into private and non-private hospitals in Karachi, The Specific Tribune learnt on Wednesday.
“The number of suspected patients is going up as each day passes,” stated Edhi Basis chairperson Faisal Edhi. “The hospitals have been refusing to take them in since Tuesday,” he disclosed, including that Edhi employees had been informed that the hospitals didn’t have the services to take them in.
Edhi stated that his basis’s ambulances had been transporting these sufferers to the hospitals after which taking them again to their properties once they had been turned away from the medical services.
Learn full story right here.
8:45pm: Al-Azhar College’s Ulema concern fatwa in opposition to congregational prayers
The Supreme Ulema Council (SUC) of Egypt’s Al-Azhar College has issued a fatwa, banning all congregational prayers at mosques to stem the unfold of coronavirus outbreak.
Pakistan’s President Dr Arif Alvi had requested the supreme council to concern a tenet for Muslims all over the world over precautionary measures whereas performing spiritual obligations.
The fatwa, a ruling on a degree of Islamic regulation given by a recognised authority, additional states that every one public gatherings, together with congregational prayers, can pace up the unfold of the lethal illness. Therefore, authorities officers in Muslim international locations have the authority to cancel congregational and Friday prayers, it provides.
Learn extra right here.
8:30pm: With three new corona-positive instances, G-B’s tally rises to 84
With three new instances in Gilgit-Baltistan, the variety of coronavirus sufferers has risen to 84, G-B Info Division G-B stated on Wednesday.
5:00pm: Balochistan governor to donate one month wage in combat in opposition to coronavirus
Governor Balochistan Amanullah Khan Yasinzai has determined to deposit his one month wage into “Corona-Fund”, aiming to assist the federal government in its battle in opposition to the virus outbreak.
In response to Paind Khan Kharoti, spokesman for the Balochistan Secretariat, the governor additionally urged the privileged to return ahead and assist these in want amid the nationwide disaster.
He additionally harassed upon collective efforts in opposition to the pandemic, saying all segments of the society should launch joint efforts to comprise the outbreak, with out getting frightened.
4:20pm: Yet another succumbs to the virus
One other coronavirus affected person passed away in a Rawalpindi hospital, taking the nationwide demise toll to eight.
The affected person, who not too long ago returned from the UK, had been hospitalised since March 21.
3:40 pm: Prime Minister Imran Khan requests leaders to unite
Prime Minister Imran Khan requested leaders to unite within the mission to fight the lethal coronavirus.
Whereas addressing parliamentary leaders by way of video hyperlink, the premier stated the lockdown initially began by shutting colleges and gatherings however Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan have taken it a step additional and banned public transport as properly.
He reiterated that the lockdown will affect the financial system and improve poverty within the nation, and stated the choice of lockdown will have to be constantly reassessed.
وزیراعظم عمران خان کا پارلیمانی رہنماؤں سے خطاب https://t.co/pLMcy3Niti
— Govt of Pakistan (@pid_gov) March 25, 2020
Learn full story right here.
2:17 pm: Sindh Well being Division calls medical doctors to assist combat virus
The Sindh Well being Division known as for medical doctors to return ahead and assist combat the virus.
Pakistan Peoples Occasion (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto posted the message on Twitter and known as for medical doctors to assist.
Calling all medical doctors. Please apply by way of hyperlink under. #Pakistan wants you. #PakistanvsCorona https://t.co/bE2PEtHk4m
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) March 25, 2020
12:40 pm: Punjab Cupboard approves Rs1 bn to assist Balochistan govt
Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar lauded Balochistan CM Jam Kamal for his therapy of tourists from totally different provinces amid the outbreak.
He stated the Punjab Cupboard accepted Rs 1bn to assist the Balochistan authorities in its aid operations, including that Punjab is able to help in each approach.
12:30 pm: NDRMF funds $50m to NDMA
Nationwide Catastrophe and Threat Administration Fund (NDRMF) will fund $50 million to the Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority (NDMA).
Testing kits, RNA extraction kits, cell x-ray machines, ICU ventilators, syringe pumps, N95 masks, protecting fits, thermal weapons and scanners shall be bought with the funds.
An settlement between the NDRMF, NDMA and Well being Ministry shall be signed in Islamabad at present.
12:15 pm: Chinese language billionaire sends medical tools to Pakistan
The Chinese language Embassy in Pakistan stated a cargo aircraft carrying N95 surgical masks and different protecting tools has been dispatched from China.
The primary batch of N95 and surgical masks will arrive in Karachi at present.
A aircraft certain for Pakistan carrying N95 and surgical masks sponsored by China’s @JackMa Basis and the Alibaba Basis has taken off. China is standing along with Pak by thick and skinny！????#COVID_19 #ChinaPakSolidarity @ForeignOfficePk @MFA_China pic.twitter.com/N2eIUCM060
— Chinese language Emb Pakistan (@CathayPak) March 25, 2020
12:00 pm: Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa appoints 28 coronavirus focal individuals
Kyber Pakhtunkhwa appointed 28 coronavirus focal individuals throughout the province. 20 separate focal individuals have been appointed for the built-in tribal districts.
11:30 am: 5 new coronavirus instances in Balochistan
The Balochistan authorities confirmed 5 new coronavirus instances, elevating the provincial tally to 115.
Spokesperson Liaqaut Shahwani stated two pilgrims and three others on the Taftan quarantine centre examined optimistic for the virus.
Chief Minister Jam Kamal stated his authorities is offering all sources to ascertain quarantine and isolation centres within the province. He urged the lots to assist the federal government protocol and make sure the implementation of the lockdown. 11:20 am: 39 check optimistic for coronavirus in Mardan
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Well being Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra confirmed that out of 46 individuals examined in Union Council Manga of Mardan district, 39 turned out to be optimistic.
He added that 4 samples had been rejected and all the brand new instances had been asymptomatic.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa’s first fatality from COVID-19 occurred in Manga. A person, who returned from Saudi Arabia after performing Umrah, examined optimistic and died inside days of his analysis.
Jhagra reiterated the significance of staying residence presently.
1. Fast replace of prolonged Corona Virus check leads to UC Manga, Mardan the place Pakistan’s first demise was recorded, & a lockdown was enacted. Sampling has proven that out of 46 individuals examined within the UC, 39 checks are optimistic. Four samples had been rejected. All examined had been asymptomatic.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) March 25, 2020
2. Additional particulars are awaited and shall be launched as they arrive. The data minister and I’ll maintain a briefing shortly. There are vital classes for all of us requested to remain at residence, to adjust to directions throughout Pakistan.
— Taimur Khan Jhagra (@Jhagra) March 25, 2020
9:40 am: Federal cupboard meets to debate state of affairs
The {Federal Cabinet} chaired by Prime Minister Imran Khan will meet by way of video hyperlink to debate the state of affairs within the nation later at present.
An eight-point agenda shall be mentioned.
The assembly will overview the affect of the virus on the financial system and the facility division will transient the Cupboard relating to electrical energy payments.
The Cupboard will even approve a package deal of services within the development sector and take into account tax exemption on international enterprise loans and earnings.
The Nationwide Electrical Car Coverage will even be introduced on the Cupboard assembly.9:30 am: Sindh govt identifies 132 instances out of 143 in Karachi
The Sindh authorities recognized 132 out of 143 instances in Karachi. 47 -the highest variety of instances – had been seen in Saddar City, 37 in Gulshan, 12 in Nazimabad, 9 every in Gulberg and Jamshed City, eight in North Karachi, 5 in Liaquatabad, two every in Lyari and Gadap City and just one in Orangi City.
9:15 am: PML-N president to convene assembly at present
Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif will convene a gathering at present at 2pm to debate the coronavirus pandemic within the nation.
Members of the nationwide and provincial meeting, senate members and central govt committee members will focus on steps to curb the unfold of the virus.
9:00 am: Gilgit-Baltistan tightens lockdown
Because the variety of confirmed coronavirus instances continues to soar throughout the nation, the G-B authorities determined to ‘tighten’ the continuing lockdown.
Commissioner Gilgit Usman Ahmad stated there shall be no markets and banks and inter-city transport will even be banned. Nonetheless, petrol pumps, groceries and pharmacies will stay open.
Police and paramilitary troops are patrolling the streets and roads around the clock to implement the lockdown.
Learn extra right here.
1:00 am: Petroleum costs decreased
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) authorities has made the choice to scale back the worth of petroleum by Rs15, as a part of the financial aid package deal introduced by Prime Minister Imran Khan.
The brand new costs will come into impact by March 25, 2020.
