By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan has confirmed 49 deaths in a single day by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 208,512. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 4,167 on Monday.
According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 3,557 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.
Sindh has become the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Till now 80,446 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 74,778 in Punjab, 25,778 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,376 in Balochistan, 12,643 in Islamabad, 1,442 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 1,049 in Azad Kashmir.
Furthermore, 1,681 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 1,269 in Sindh, 922 in KP, 116 in Balochistan, 127 in Islamabad, 24 in GB and 28 in Azad Kashmir.
Patients are under treatment at quarantine centers of 462 hospitals where 7,295 beds are available. Pakistan has so far conducted 1,262,162 coronavirus tests and 23,009 in last 24 hours. 95,407 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,437 patients are in critical condition.
People shouldn’t choose themselves what medicines should be given to the coronavirus patients in their family, but rely on a doctor’s prescription instead.
This is what Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza remarked while speaking to a host of a private Tv programme on Monday. “Actemra injections are under clinical trials in Punjab only while the use of remdesivir is currently in a trial phase,” Dr Mirza said.
Dr Mirza urged people to adhere to the doctor’s instructions because doing otherwise, like choosing dosage or medicines on their own, might further worsen any patient’s health. Giving an update on the plasma therapy, he said the government hasn’t been recommending people to donate their plasma since the therapy is still under trial. “The Government of Pakistan will not promote plasma donations unless its trials show any positive outcome.” Once, it begins bearing fruit, then might urge the people to donate their plasma to critical COVID-19 patients. He said people should contact authorities if they want to give plasma instead of personally approaching coronavirus patients. This, as Dr Mirza puts it, is extremely dangerous and can put their lives at risk if a complication occurs in the absence of any healthcare professional. As of Monday, over 205,000 infections and 4,200 deaths have been reported in Pakistan. More than 95,000 people have defeated the virus. 576 new cases of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) were reported in Punjab in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of infections in the province to 74,778.
According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, eight more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll in the province to 1,681. Thus far, 26,026 patients have been cured of the disease in the province. 576 fresh cases were detected after 8,389 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours. A total of 498,496 tests have been conducted in the province so far.
According to district-wise details of cases, Lahore has so far reported 37,872 cases, Nankana Sahib 284, Kasur 533, Shiekhupura 945, Rawalpindi 5,736, Jhelum 331, Attock 363, Chakwal 111, Gujranwala 2,660, Sialkot 1,930, Narowal 193, Gujrat 1,972, Hafizabad 502, Mandibahuddin 241, Multan 4,566, and Khanewal 247. Vehari has recorded 366 cases, Faisalabad 4,849, Chiniot 251, Toba Tek Singh 481, Jhang 287, Rahim Yar Khan 962, Sargodha 773, Mianwali 341, Khushab 162, Bhakkar 161, Bahawalnagar 354, Bahawalpur 1,161, Lodhran 191, DG Khan 1002, Muzaffargarh 772, Rajanpur 150, Layyah 277, Sahiwal 576, Okara 258, and Pakpattan 137. As a precautionary measure to control the spread of coronavirus, the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Reckitt and Benckiser would carry out disinfectant spray in three major cities under public private partnership.
A spokesman of NDMA said on Monday that an agreement had been inked with Reckitt and Benckiser company to perform disinfectant sprays in vulnerable areas of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad to combat COVID-19. Chairman NDMA Lt Gen Muhammad Afzal and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Reckitt and Benckiser signed the agreement during a ceremony held here.
