PM urges people to wear face masks

 By Abdul Qadir Qureshi 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Prime Minister Imran Khan has urged people to wear face masks in public to avoid spreading of second wave of COVID-19 as winter was approaching. 

“Compared to some other states, Allah has been kind to us in Pak & spared us worst effects of COVID-19. There is a fear onset of winter could result in 2nd wave. I urge everyone to wear face masks in public to avoid a spike. All offices & ed institutions must ensure masks are worn,” he tweeted on October 4. 

Earlier, the National Command Operation Centre (NCOC), leading the country’s coronavirus response, had also asked all provinces and federating units to launch a crackdown on restaurants and wedding halls violating standard operative procedures (SOPs) framed to curb the spread of COVID-19 in the wake of a fresh surge in infections, particularly in Karachi. 

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has also issued a fresh warning over the increasing COVID-19 cases in the country, fearing that the country could be headed for a second wave of the disease.

Helipad service restored at JPMC

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The helipad built at the country's largest Jinnah Post Medical Centre (JPMC), Karachi, which remained dormant for a very long time has now been restored with the landing of a chopper of Sindh government. 

It was disclosed by Dr Seemi Jamali, Executive Director, JPMC, while talking on media on October 5. 

She informed that the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has allowed the restoration of air ambulance landing operations at the JPMC helipad. 

It may be noted that the founder of Edhi Foundation, the late Maulana Abdul Sattar Edhi, had launched the Edhi Air Ambulance service. 

The restoration of air ambulance service will greatly help patients needing immediate medical assistance, particularly those suffering from heart strokes.

Coronavirus Update: 267 new cases in Sindh

 By Mukhtar Alam

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Sindh registered another 267 new COVID cases, out of 9,918 suspected samples on October 3, against Pakistan’s 632 new infections during the last 24 hours, taking the tally of infection to 138,050 for the province.

The Sindh Chief Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah, in his daily COVID-19 status statement, informed that there were 4,719 infected people receiving treatment at Homes (4,440), isolation centres (7) and hospitals (272). 

He further stated that of the patients admitted at hospitals, 201 were undergoing the critical phase, while another 39 were put on ventilators, as of morning of October 3. 

In all, 1, out of 28 designated COVID-19 testing laboratories, handled the suspected samples during the last 24 hours. 

These laboratories included LUMHS (5,188), Chughtai Lab (1,071), Indus Hospital (1,056), PMCD KU (894), AKUH (888) and others. 

The district-wise breakdown of new cases came as: Karachi (195), Hyderabad (10), Dadu (6), Badin (5), Larnkana (3), Shaheed Benazirabad (3), Sanghar (2), Sukkur (2), Ghotki (2), Mirpurkhas (2), Khairpur (2), Jamshoro (1) and others. 

In the meantime, three more patients died of COVID-19 on October 3, taking the total of relevant fatalities to 2,520 for Sindh and 6,513 for Pakistan. 

The three fatalities occurred in Karachi East, taking its own tally of patients who lost their lives to the lethal virus to 708, out of 25,348 infections. 

On October 2, as per official data, four patients were reported dead due to the diseases from Karachi, while one died at Noushero Feroze. Earlier, 17 patients were registered dead at Karachi and one at Sujawal on October 1.

Electric buses planned in Karachi

 By Masood Sattar Khan

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Federal Minister for Science and Technology, Fawad Chaudhary, has disclosed that the government planned to ply electric buses in Karachi.

"I have submitted my plan in this regard to the Sindh Governor, Imran Ismail" the federal minister informed the media persons in Karachi on October 3. 

The Governor, the minister continued, would discuss the plan with the Sindh Chief' Minister, Syed Murad Ali Shah. 

Fawad Chaudhry further stated that he too would meet the Sindh Chief Minister in this regard during his next visit.