Pak ex-PM Yusuf Raza Gilani tests positive for COVID-19

Islamabad, June 13

Pakistan’s former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani examined positive for the coronavirus on Saturday, turning into the newest high political determine to contract COVID-19 that has claimed 2,551 lives and contaminated 132,405 individuals within the nation.

Gilani, 67, examined positive after attending a listening to of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in a corruption case.

On Thursday, Shehbaz Sharif, chief of the Opposition Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), examined positive for the coronavirus after he appeared earlier than the NAB in a cash laundering case.

Gilani’s son Kasim Gilani introduced on Twitter that the previous premier had examined positive for the coronavirus.

“Thank you Imran Khan’s govt and National Accountability Bureau! You have successfully put my father’s life in danger. His COVID-19 result came positive,” Kasim mentioned.

Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi additionally examined positive for the coronavirus on Saturday.

Pakistan’s COVID-19 circumstances reached 132,405 after a file 6,472 new infections have been detected, whereas 88 extra individuals have succumbed to the coronavirus, pushing the loss of life toll to 2,551, the well being ministry mentioned on Saturday.

The Ministry of National Health Services mentioned a file 29,850 assessments have been performed within the final 24 hours, taking the entire variety of COVID-19 assessments carried out within the nation to 839,019.

“So far, 50,056 people have recovered across Pakistan, making it a significant count,” it mentioned.

There aren’t any sufferers on ventilators in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan. As many as 420 ventilators out of a complete 1,400 respiration gadgets allotted for COVID-19 are occupied throughout Pakistan, it mentioned.

Out of the entire 132,405 circumstances detected to this point, Punjab has recorded 50,087. A complete of 49,256 infections have been reported in Sindh, 16,415 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 7,866 in Balochistan, 7,163 in Islamabad, 1,044 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 574 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

At least 88 individuals have died within the final 24 hours, taking the entire loss of life toll to 2,551, the ministry mentioned.

There are 820 hospitals with COVID-19 amenities within the nation and eight,559 sufferers are admitted throughout the nation, whereas others are recuperating in self-isolation at properties, it added.

The authorities closed down practically 1,300 sizzling spots, together with a number of areas in capital Islamabad, on Saturday as a result of quick spreading of the lethal virus.

“Total 1,292 smart lockdowns enforce throughout the country,” National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) mentioned.

It mentioned that the federal and provincial authorities have been guaranteeing compliance with well being tips and directions for the working locations and following observe, test and quarantine technique.

A complete of 844 areas in Punjab are below sensible lockdown, 414 areas in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 12 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, 10 in Islamabad, 7 in Sindh and 5 in Gilgit-Baltistan, it mentioned.

More than 1,541 outlets, 33 industries and 1,429 autos have been cautioned or fined or sealed, it mentioned.

“To ensure the implementation of the health guidelines/instructions and preventive measures, special teams are operating all across the country to ensure that the SOPs are being implemented,” NCOC mentioned.

Meanwhile, Pakistan medical items watchdog has authorised the primary indigenously made testing equipment for the novel coronavirus.

Minister of Science and Technology Fawad Chaudhry mentioned that the equipment was developed by the scientists on the army-run National University of Science and Technology (NUST).

The equipment was authorised by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) after it accomplished profitable rounds of trials.

“Another landmark achieved…. DRAP has approved Pakistan first COVID testing kit, Congratulations to @Official NUST and our brilliant scientists …you people have made us proud … this will bring significant cost reduction of COVID tests also will save huge import bill,” Chaudhry tweeted on Friday.

These testing kits will price one-fourth of the present worth for the kits used for detecting COVID-19. The kits have been effectively examined on laboratory controls and affected person samples.

The equipment was developed in collaboration with Wuhan Institute of Virology China, DZIF Germany, Columbia University, US and Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Pakistan. — PTI