Islamabad: Pakistan has reported 40 deaths in the last twenty-four hours because of the coronavirus - the lowest number since Eid al Fitr.
Now, with Eid al Adha close by, the pressure is on for authorities to stop a resurgence of the virus which seems to have substantially subsided in the country with only 2,145 new infections reported.
Today, the total number of coronavirus cases stands at 257,914 while 5,426 deaths have occurred so far due to the deadly virus.
‘Drop in cases not due to fewer tests’
Federal Minister and Chairman of the Coronavirus control committee Asad Umar in a tweet rejected the notion that the government’s portrayal of a decrease in COVID-19 cases was because of the reduction in the number of tests.
Umar in support of his argument presented figures which he posted on his Twitter account. “Some saying cases are down only due to testing reduction. If positivity ratio was same as in mid june... 22% +, the 24,262 tests done yesterday would have resulted in 5,500 cases... Actual yesterday was 2,145.! Decline is primarily due to a nearly 60% reduction in positivity.”
Sindh also reports 50 per cent reduction in cases
According to a report by the Health Department of Sindh, the number of coronavirus cases have dropped by 50 per cent. According to a report that quotes last three months figures, from April 29 to July 12, positive cases’ ratio was 10.21 per cent.
On June 14, this percentage jumped to 22.45 and remained so during the month. However, on July 12 again, coronavirus cases have dropped to 11.44 showing a reduction by 50 per cent.
PM saddened over loss of friend, senior doctor to COVID-19
Prime Minister Imran Khan has sent his condolences to the families of a senior doctor, Vice Chancellor of the Nishtar Medical University (NMU) Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha and his Aitchison college mate Nadeem Mumtaz, the owner of Lahore’s iconic Fazaldin & Sons pharmacy on Mall Road who succumed to the virus.
“My condolences and prayers go to the families of Mustafa Kamal Pasha, VC Nishtar Medical University, & Nadeem Mumtaz— both of whom passed away as a result of COVID19. Nadeem Mumtaz and I were together in Aitchison for 9 years,” Khan tweeted.
Doctors mourn death of senior colleagues
Doctors across the country also mourned death of their senior colleagues — Vice Chancellor and general surgeon, Nishtar Medical University (NMU) Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha and renowned orthopaedic surgeon Dr Younis Hayder Soomro.
In a statement, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Secretary General Dr Qaisar Sajjad condoled the demise of the pair due to Covid-19.
Dr Nasar Ranjha, District Physician, at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Sargodha and Dr Muhammad Ramzan Sumra Consultant at DHQ Layyah are among hundreds and thousands of the students of Dr Pasha. They paid him glowing tributes.
Dr Ranjha termed Dr Pasha ‘a great man, a great doctor and a great teacher at the Nishtar Medical College’. Dr Sumra said, “We, his students owe to Dr Mustafa Kamal Pasha for our success in medical fields and will continue to cherish his memories as a role model for others.”
