Beijing subways getting high tech

By Masood Sattar Khan 
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The subway trains in Beijing were testing a smart service system that included inspection cameras and LED windows showing useful transport information to passengers as country was swiftly recovering from its past glories following Coronavirus (COVID -19).

The system, called Intelligent Passenger Service System, provides convenience and care services for passengers, according to its developer. 

As part of the system, some high-definition cameras are installed in train carriages, used to capture passengers' unusual conditions, such as whether they are wearing face masks or if somebody falls in a faint or waves for help, Li Yujie, deputy head of Beijing Subway's Technical Department has said. 

High-definition screens also can be seen from areas over the train's doors, showing different information, including lines and the degree of crowding in neighboring carriages. 

Also, the train's windows, combined with LED panels, can dynamically show current locations, subway routes and maps of incoming stations. 

"For example, passengers can see where toilets, elevators and exits are at the next station, and also what commercial facilities the station is close to," Li said. 

The windows are actually being called as magical windows by passengers who have experienced the train. “The smart systems and functions will be further improved in the future”, he promised.

Coronavirus: SIUT needs more intensive care ventilators

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Apprehending that number of COVID-19 was going to increase in Sindh in the coming days, the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) on April 3 hinted it will have to expand its existing care facilities for coronavirus positive patients significantly.

A SIUT press release issued on April 3 said that the institute will need further ventilators and intensive care facilities to meet the future load of corona positive patients. 

The communication was not clear about the availability of the required resources or new equipment, however, a source in the institute said that anyone can help in such an emergency situation. “Like past, it can be government or philanthropists.” 

The SIUT had started an exclusive coronavirus clinic on March 18, inviting its registered patients as well as the general population suspecting the viral disease within them to report to the clinic for related screening. According to the press release, said that reporting of the suspected cases had been extraordinary. “Till date about 3,600 patients have been screened, of which 25 tested positive for coronavirus.” 

It was said that coronavirus has completely paralyzed the entire world, having created a sense of insecurity and helplessness. The countries considered most developed economies, whose priorities were wars and weapons, are struggling to cope with the pandemic now. 

“Now when they are in grip of the corona pandemic, their health infrastructure appears completely shattered. They are short of ventilators to save their ailing populations,” the SIUT communication noted. 

The SIUT mentioned that when the corona pandemic started in Pakistan, preventive measures were half-hearted there, except in Sindh. “Our health facilities are already meager and not in position to face this disaster so the nation needed coordinated and prompt measures to face this challenge.” 

In the given condition the SIUT started playing the front line role in serving the humanity, the press release said further, highlighting that of the patients tested positive for coronavirus nine with minor symptoms were advised home quarantine, 11 were admitted in isolation ward, while five were admitted in the ICU who needed ventilator support. 

“In the coming days we will need more and more ventilators and ICU facilities,” the communication concluded. 

Meanwhile a SIUT personnel said that institute’s coronavirus Helpline (021 99215469) was also playing an important role in assisting public round the clock, where doctors provide them information about preventive measures and guidelines.

JSMU introduces COVID-19 online course

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Jinnah Sindh Medical University (JSMU), Karachi, has introduced a free online training course for doctors dealing with COVID-19 pandemic situation in the country. 

The JSMU Vice Chancellor, Prof Syed Muhammad Tariq Rafi, in a statement revealed that the online course addresses the dual challenges of keeping the healthcare providers abreast with the management practices of the coronavirus and ensuring their own safety as the battle the coronavirus on the front lines 

The two-hour duration course in question, which is available free of cost on www.jsmu.edu.pk has been prepared by JSMU Institute of Family Medicine and APPNA Institute of Public Health.

Salary deduction of healthcare providers regretted

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA), Karachi chapter has expressed concerns over the 10% deduction from salaries of healthcare providers by the Sindh government. 

In a statement issued by the PIMA Karachi President, Prof Muhammad Azeemuddin, it was observed that doctors were fighting as front liners against the coronavirus and decision to exercise a cut on their salaries was unjust. 

It was further noted that unlike the Sindh government, the Punjab government has announced an additional one month salary for doctors. 

The PIMA demanded an immediate release of salaries and stipends of house officers and postgraduate students and also warned that if the proper and standard protection is not provided to the courageous soldiers (doctors and other health staff), the health system would totally collapse. 

The PIMA also condemned the private hospitals and medical centres, which were reportedly deducting salaries of their staff with an excuse of lowered workload and lesser income.

Coronavirus Update: Spreading to more Sindh districts

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The number of coronavirus infected districts in Sindh increased to 11 as the virus affected at least 10 persons in Ghotki, Jamshoro, Badin and Tando Mohammad Khan, while the total reported cases remained 830, with three new deaths on April 3. 

According to the Sindh health department data, three new deaths include one of a 54-year-old man, who had contacted the illness locally, and died in a Hyderabad hospital. The person had a neurological disorder also and was tested positive for the virus on April 3, according to the Sindh Health minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho. 

Earlier, the health authorities confirmed death of two Karachi residents due to the virus infection on April 3. The patients, aged 82 and 60 years respectively, had severe comorbidities and tested positive on April 1 at two different hospitals of Karachi, said a source, adding that they deceased had acquired the infection locally. 

As such, the death toll due to coronavirus reached to 14 on April 3 with 11 deaths in Karachi and two in Hyderabad. The overall rate of corona infection in Sindh remained 10.38 per cent, 830 tested positive out of 7,992 suspect cases. 

According to official data, new cases were reported on April 3 at Karachi (44), followed by Hyderabad (15), Tando Mohammad Khan (5), Ghotki (2), Jamshoro (2) and Badin (1). 

The district wise tally of positive corona patients across the Sindh came on April 3 as: Karachi-380, Sukkur 273, Hyderabad-152, Larkana-7, Shaheed Benazirabad-6, Tando M Khan -5, Ghotki-2, Jamshoro 2, Dadu-1, Badin-1, and Jacoababad-1.

Aziz Memon welcomes relief to textile exporters

By Abdul Qadir Qureshi
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Renowned businessman and philanthropist, Aziz Memon, has welcomed the government’s decision to allow the textile industrial units to complete their orders in hand during the current period of lockdown. 

“Granting permission to the textile export industries to complete orders in hand is a move in the right direction,” Aziz Memon, Chairman, Kings Group of Companies, remarked in a brief chat with PNFS on April 3. 

According to the notification issued by the Commissioner of Karachi, in pursuance of the home department of the Government of Sindh, only the exporting manufacturers have been allowed to process their goods out of their industry whereas no new manufacturing of non-essential items is allowed during the lockdown.

Wuhan resumes train, subway service; final restrictions to be lifted on April 8

By Masood Sattar Khan
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

Wuhan, China's COVID-19 ground zero, is returning towards normalcy. It has re-opened for business and the subway service has also been resumed following over two months of suspension. 

Travel controls on most of Hubei province, where Wuhan is located, were lifted on March 23 while the subways and long distance trains resumed on March 28. 

The final restrictions preventing people from leaving the city of Wuhan are scheduled to come to an end on April 8.  

The central Chinese city of Wuhan, once at the epicenter of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) epidemic, has gradually begun its journey towards normal life after a couple of months of lockdown as the authorities have lowered virus risk evaluation from high to medium.

The necessary precautions still remained in place as the commuters of the subways and trains were required to have their body temperatures checked before entering metro stations. They were also required to sit in between empty seats. 

The markets in the city of 11 million inhabitants have reportedly opened on March 30 but customers were scarce as they waited for things to improve further in the days to come.  

According to the reports, around 70% to 80% of shops on the mall were found open but many of them imposed restrictions on how many people could enter while the shopkeepers set up dispensers for hand sanitiser and checked customers for signs of fever. 

Wuhan’s bus and subway services are generally availed by thousands of people while commuting in and out of the manufacturing and transportation hub of central China.

Fumigation, spray underway to contain Coronavirus

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Minister for Information and Local Government, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, said that, in an attempt to prevent the spread of Coronavirus, campaigns of germicidal spray have been launched across the province. 

“In the first phase, spray campaign has been started in Hyderabad, Nawabshah, Sukkur and Larkana,” the minister added, saying directives have already been issued for the commencement of spray campaigns in other districts as well. 

Meanwhile the Mayor of Karachi Wasim Akhtar reviewed a fumigation drive in the Central district of Karachi, directing the KMC officers to ensure expeditious fumigation activities, especially around food streets of Burns Road, Boat Basin, Sindhi Muslim Housing Society, Muhammad Ali Housing Society, Hussainabad and Tower.

In the meantime, District health Officer, Malir, confirmed detection of three Covid-19 positive cases in Gulshan-i-Hadid Union Council-5&7 following which all out-patient departments and sections in public and private hospitals have been closed from April 3 until further order. 

A government handout said that the provincial minister for Human Settlements and Special Development Ghulam Murtaza Baloch ordered the immediate closure of OPDs at a meeting of civil and health administration officers, held at the office of Malir Deputy Commissioner. 

The DHO Malir, Dr Ahmed Ali Memon, informed the meeting that five corona positive cases have been detected in Malir, two patients in Landhi and three in Gulshan-i-Hadid. 

The Minister urged the people to stay in homes and adopt social distance in the wake of reports about increase in the cases of coronavirus from local transmission in Karachi.

Coronavirus Update: Sindh reports first death outside Karachi

By Mukhtar Alam 

(Pakistan News & Features Services)

The Sindh Health department on April 2 confirmed 52 new Coronavirus cases, taking the provincial tally of infected persons to 761, with 11 deaths including the first one outside Karachi, while overall the country’s figure stood at 2,386 with 34 deaths. 

The provincial health minister, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, informed that the 10th person losing his life due Coronavirus (Covid-19) was a resident of Tando Mohammad Khan, who was brought for treatment to a hospital in Hyderabad. 

The deceased, aged 65 years, was admitted to the hospital on March 28, the minister added, saying the man was member of a tableeghi jamat and was tested positive for coronavirus at the hospital. 

The 11th corona related death was of an 86-year-old man from Karachi who passed away within 24 hours of his admission at the hospital.

According to the Sindh health department, Coronavirus infected cases reported from Karachi division and other six districts of the province, out of which 416 were local transmission cases, while the remaining infections were detected in passengers who returned from various countries and pilgrims returning from Iran. 

The Sindh data updated at 6.15 pm showed 336 cases in Karachi, 273 in Sukkur, 137 in Hyderabad, seven in Larkana, six in Shaheed Benazirabad and one each at Dadu and Jacobabad.

Cured coronavirus patient donates plasma

By Mukhtar Alam
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

A Karachi resident, Yahya Jaffery, who has also been the first Coronavirus patient in the country, donated plasma for the possible treatment of critically ill COVID-19 patients. 

Speaking to newsmen at a hospital where Yahya Jaffery donated the plasma, a senior haematologist, Dr Saqib Ansari said that the use of blood plasma received from patients who have recovered from the corona disease may help save lives of those suffering from the diseases. 

Disclosing that plasma infusion in critical COVID-19 patients has given excellent results in other countries, Dr Saqib Ansari mentioned that before repeating the therapy in the country he and his team need permission from the government to conduct clinical trials, among other protocols and requisites.