PM’s aide Dr Zafar Mirza. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD: New coronavirus instances within the nation confirmed a decline on Monday together with extra recoveries, whereas the authorities invited researchers, scientists, technicians, producers and different consultants to recommend proposals that might help the federal government in its combat towards the pandemic.
At a media briefing within the federal capital on the virus scenario, State Minister for Well being Dr Zafar Mirza expressed optimism that variety of individuals recovering from coronavirus within the nation would improve within the coming days.
“Confirmed cases reported in Pakistan during the past 24 hours [by Monday evening] are 99, which are less than the cases reported in the previous 24 hours,” Mirza mentioned. “In the coming days, there will be an increase in the number of people recovered,” he added.
“In hospitals, out of 783 cases, 773 are improving and expected to get well soon,” mentioned Mirza. “Only 10 patients are in a critical condition,” he added. He confirmed that the coronavirus pandemic had claimed 21 lives, with 5 deaths reported inside the final 24 hours.
Mirza mentioned that the Greater Schooling Fee (HEC) was inviting proposals that might help the federal government in its combat towards Covid-19, including that the fee would supply beneficiant funding to potential researchers if their concepts are accepted.
“If you have any ideas against COVID-19 prevention, its treatment and on the effects that emerge from it, please submit your proposals to HEC. They have issued an advertisement in that regard. The deadline to apply for this initiative is April 3, 2020,” Zafar added.
Particular Assistant to Prime Minister on Nationwide Safety Dr Moeed Yusuf and Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority (NDMA) Chairman Lt-Gen Muhammad Afzal had been additionally current on the press convention.
Dr Yusuf informed reporters that the federal government was engaged on varied choices concerning opening transportation within the nation, nonetheless, no determination had been taken thus far concerning resuming the passenger prepare operations of Pakistan Railways.
He added that the nation’s airports can be steadily reopened subsequent month after considering all of the potential eventualities. Until then, he added, all airports would stay closed for regular home flights.
Dr Yusuf mentioned that no Pakistani passengers had been in transit at any airports of the world. “All such passengers have either been airlifted to Pakistan or their visas have been extended in their respective countries,” he mentioned.
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The NDMA chief informed the presser that 4 to 5 flights will take off for China in a number of days to choose up ventilators, private safety gear and different important medical provides. He mentioned he anticipated China would ship 16 ventilators and 5,000 private protecting gear by Tuesday (at this time).
“Until now, we’ve booked 3,000 ventilators. But keep in mind, we don’t expect all of them to arrive given their current demand around the world,” Afzal mentioned. He added that steps had been being taken to extend the nation’s testing capability.
“Testing facilities will soon be available in Gujrat and Bahawalpur. Evaluation of laboratories in Sargodha is being carried out,” he mentioned. “We’re also requesting Balochistan to identify sites for testing so that we can start building labs there,” he added.
Lt Gen Afzal mentioned that Sindh had been supplied 20,000 testing kits, Punjab 5,000, Balochistan 4,800 and that as much as 37,000 kits had been put into reserve.
