Pakistan reports 656 Covid cases

Pakistan reports 656 new coronavirus cases and one death during the last 24 hours, said the National Institute of Health in its update on Monday morning.

According to fresh statistics, the COVID-19 positivity rate in Pakistan surged to 3.35 percent.

As many as 656 new COVID-19 infections were detected after testing on 19,611 samples in the last 24 hours, taking Pakistan's total cases to 1,554,591.

Meanwhile, 161 people suffering from the virus are being treated in critical care units.

 

COVID-19 Statistics 01 August 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 19,611
Positive Cases: 656
Positivity %: 3.35%
Deaths: 01
Patients on Critical Care: 161

— NIH Pakistan (@NIH_Pakistan) August 1, 2022

 

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Monsoon rains claim 9 more lives in Balochistan

During the last 24 hours, at least nine more people died in Balochistan. According to a Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) report, around 13,000 homes have also been damaged in the flash floods.

The heavy monsoon spells have rendered Balochistan calamity stricken as at least 136 people have so far been confirmed dead due to flood related incidents.

In Quetta, sinkholes were formed on many roads due to heavy rainfall.

On the other hand, Punjab’s Jhang and Ranjanpur districts reeled under flood waves. The River Chenab overflowed near Jhang and water entered the populated areas.

Officials feared overflowing Chenab could also cause floods near Gujranwala.

In Rajanpur, which was hit by floods earlier this week, the Pakistan Army continues to carry out rescue operations. It has also set up medical and relief camps.

In Dera Ghazi Khan, the flood water was receding and people who had migrated from the area were returning homes.

However, in the Sindh province, several villages near Gambat have been flooded and the road link between Khairpur and Gambat and Kangri was lost.

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Sri Lanka president seeks unity government to save economy

Sri Lanka’s new president Ranil Wickremesinghe has formally invited MPs to join an all-party unity government to revive the bankrupt economy by undertaking painful reforms, his office said on Sunday.

Wickremesinghe took office earlier this month after public anger over the island nation’s worst economic crisis forced his predecessor Gotabaya Rajapaksa to flee the country and quit.

In a meeting on Saturday with the influential monks of the Temple of the Tooth in Kandy, one of Buddhism’s most sacred shrines, Wickremesinghe outlined his plans.

“As the president, I wish to start a new journey,” Wickremesinghe was quoted as telling the monks in his first meeting with the powerful Buddhist clergy since taking office.

“I would like to get all the parties together and go on that journey as well as to form an all-party government.”

He has written to all lawmakers asking them to join a unity government.

A former opposition MP, Wickremesinghe, 73, took up the premiership for the sixth time in May after Rajapaksa’s elder brother Mahinda resigned and there were no other takers for the job.

Wickremesinghe went onto become the president after Gotabaya escaped on July 9 when tens of thousands of protesters angry at the economic crisis stormed the presidential palace.

He fled to Singapore from where he resigned five days later and Wickremesinghe became interim president and later won a vote in parliament confirming his ascension.

Sri Lanka’s 22 million people have endured months of lengthy blackouts, record inflation and shortages of food, fuel and medicines. Since late last year, the country has run out of foreign exchange to finance even the most essential imports.

In April, Sri Lanka defaulted on its $51 billion foreign debt and opened bailout talks with the International Monetary Fund.

Wickremesinghe told monks that the economy would decline further this year with a contraction of 7.0 per cent, but expected a recovery next year.

“I am working to re-stabilise this economy and build the economy in such a way that the country can be developed by 2023, 2024.

“It is a difficult task. But if you don’t do it now, it will be more difficult. We should think about whether we should try to cure the patient by giving medicine or let the patient die without giving medicine,” he added.

He said inflation currently running at 60.8pc could go up further.

After his election as president, Wickremesinghe, while ordering security forces to clear protest sites, has appointed an interim cabinet leaving the door open for others to join.

He has called a new session of parliament from Wednesday and is expected to expand the 18-member cabinet to accommodate members from opposition parties.

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Pak Army, Frontier Corps busy restoring connectivity to flood-hit areas: ISPR

Pakistan Army and Frontier Corps troops continue to engage in rescue and relief efforts in the flood-hit areas of the country, and are busy in repair work on highways and motorways to restore connectivity, the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Sunday.

According to a statement by the military's media wing, Army and FC personnel "are busy in rescue and relief efforts, apart from providing medical care and opening up communication infrastructure".

Providing an update on the flow of various rivers, the ISPR said all rivers are "flowing normal" except a low flood in Indus River at Attock, Tarbela, Chashma, and Guddu. A low flood was also reported at Warsak and a medium flood at Nowshehra in Kabul River.

KP situation

According to the statement, a maximum of 133mm rain has been recorded in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Mardan district followed by Mohmand district where 85mm of rain was recorded.

The troops carried out dewatering efforts in Mardan, said the ISPR.

Flash floods have been reported in the local nullahs of Mohmand, it added.

Southern Punjab

To the south of Punjab, "all hill torrents are flowing normal except some increased flow in Mithawan, Kaha and Sanghar Hill torrents", said the statement.

Local commanders visited Rajanpur and DG Khan where relief items were distributed among flood affectees and medical camps have been established, the ISPR said.

Balochistan

In the Balochistan town of Jhal Magsi, "complete connectivity of Gandhawa has been restored".

There is no longer any isolated area in Gandhawa and its surroundings, the military's media wing said, adding that further relief activities are underway.

Among these is an army medical camp which has thus far treated 115 patients.

Over in Khuzdar city, the M-8 motorway is still cut off. "Work on the resumption of connectivity is underway," said the ISPR statement.

According to the statement, a field medical camp established by CMH Khuzdar and FC in Hafizabad has treated 145 affected people.

In the small town of Naseerabad, the ISPR said that no rain was reported throughout the day.

"Relief activities are underway for the affected population of Babakot and Gandakha," said the statement, adding that food supplies as well as cooked meals were distributed to flood victims.

In addition, a field medical camp in Gandakha treated various patients.

In Balochistan's Chaman district, no rain was reported. The Bab-e-Dosti (Friendship Gate) at the Pak-Afghan border is "fully functional", said the ISPR.

No rain was reported in Noshki town either. "Relief efforts are underway for the stranded population," said the ISPR.

According to the statement, "cooked meals were served to over 1,000 people".

The military's media wing said that the N-40 highway, which is damaged at three places, "has been repaired and traffic resumed".

Over in Lasbela district, no rain has fallen in the past few hours and the situation is stabilizing, said the ISPR.

According to the military's media wing, five field medical camps are providing medical care in Naka, Bela, Duddar, Hub and Gadani.

The N-25 highway has been opened and repair work on bridges is underway, said the statement.

"General Officer Commanding at Gawadar visited Hub and Uthal," the statement said further, adding: "Two sorties of MI-17 were conducted and 1,500kg of ration items were distributed in Hub and Uthal."

In Kila Saifullah, rainfall was reported in the entire district.

The ISPR said that a field medical camp established at Khazina treated more than 200 patients.

Gilgit-Baltistan

The troops also carried out operations in Gilgit-Baltistan.

"Two mudslides were reported near Sikandarabad at Karakoram Highway," said the ISPR.

"The road has been opened for one way traffic by FWO," it added.

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Miftah Ismail says rupee to see improvement in next two weeks

Finance minister Miftah Ismail on Sunday said that the Pakistani rupee, which has taken a beating against the US dollar in recent weeks, should see some improvement "in the two weeks".

Ismail was addressing a press conference to speak about Pakistan's economic path forward.

"I really think — although I never like to speculate on the currency market — but I really think that the rupee's true value is far greater [than what it is right now]," the finance minister said.

He explained that in the past two months, Pakistan had to part with "a billion and another billion", which put pressure on the local currency.

Ismail said that efforts will be geared towards more dollars coming in daily and fewer leaving the country next month. "With our efforts to reduce imports and InshaAllah, with the daily rise in incoming dollars versus a decline in outgoing units, there will be a surplus [of dollars]," he said.

"This will lead to a reduced pressure [on the rupee] and the dollar's value against the rupee should then see a slight drop," the minister added.

Ismail said that he has hope that the "next two weeks will InshaAllah be better".

He cautioned, though, that although this is his view since he believes "the fundamentals are in Pakistan's favour", but "speculation and sentiments also play a role in this".

In criticism of the past rulers, said that the PTI-led government increased the country's debt by Rs20,000 billion in the last three and a half years.

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CM Elahi approves health card extension, free medicines

Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi on Saturday approved upgrade of emergency wards of all the public hospitals across the province and announced giving free-of-cost medicines to the patients there. He also gave a go-ahead to upgrade the Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology (WIC), increasing the number of beds in the hospital.

He was presiding over a meeting at the Chief Minister’s Office, which decided to extend the Health Card programme of former prime minister Imran Khan in a further improved manner, said a handout.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Elahi termed it the right of patients to get free medicines in emergencies.

Regarding the WIC, he said the number of beds in the institute would be increased up to 400. He added that the shortage of doctors in the institute, especially of anesthesiologists, and paramedics would be overcome immediately and the anesthesiologists would be awarded special allowance to lure them to join the hospital. He sought construction of residences of the doctors and paramedics on the vacant land of the institute.

The CM directed the officials concerned to launch a special programme to enhance the capacity-building of doctors. He asserted the file work should be carried out promptly so as to provide the people of the province with the best health facilities. A comprehensive review was made during the meeting to bring about improvement in the health department along with provision of the best treatment facilities to the people.

Former health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, former chairman P&D Salman Ghani, former principal secretary to CM GM Sikandar, Principal Secretary to CM Muhammad Khan Bhatti, the chairman P&D, secretary health, the head of Wazirabad Institute of Cardiology, DG Rescue 1122 and other officials concerned attended the meeting.

 

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Joe Biden again tests positive for Covid, returns to isolation

US President Joe Biden again tested positive for Covid-19 on Saturday, according to a statement from the White House physician, although he is experiencing no symptoms and feels “quite well.”

Biden, who tested positive for the disease nine days ago but then tested negative twice earlier this week, will resume isolation procedures, and his positive test is believed to be “rebound” positivity experienced by some Covid patients, according to White House physician Dr. Kevin O’Connor.

Biden tweeted about his positive case, saying it can happen to a “small minority of folks.”

“I've got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me. I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon,” he tweeted.

Folks, today I tested positive for COVID again.

This happens with a small minority of folks.

I’ve got no symptoms but I am going to isolate for the safety of everyone around me.

I’m still at work, and will be back on the road soon.

— President Biden (@POTUS) July 30, 2022

The positive test jeopardizes a Tuesday trip to Michigan Biden had planned to tout the recent passage of legislation to boost the semiconductor industry, which the White House announced earlier on Saturday.

O’Connor said Biden, who is 79, tested negative for the last four days, and there is no plan to reinitiate treatment given his lack of symptoms.

Biden previously descr­ibed his experience with Covid as mild, saying he was able to continue working while in isolation and attributed his relative ease with the disease to vaccines and other treatments.

O’Connor had previously said Biden would be tested regularly to watch for a potential “rebound” Covid-19 case, which can be experienced by some patients who have been treated with Paxlovid, the drug the president received.

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