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Covid -19 in
Pakistan/Punjab

24 March 2020

THE POLITICAL LEADESHIP WILL HAVE TO STEP UP ITS PERFORMANCE

 December 2019, we heard that Lahore increased to 21 by end of day

people were dying in Wuhan city of
China. This was particularly chilling
news for Pakistan as hundreds of
Pakistani students were studying
there. The entire city was locked
down for months and we received
scores of messages from Pakistani
students asking to be evacuated. But
it was decided that their Chinese
hosts could look after them better
than the Pakistani authorities.
From the very beginning, the entire
world knew that that the COVID-
2019 virus epidemic will spread
around the world. What did our
national leadership, especially our
federal government, do in the face of
such startling news? Nothing.
on Saturday. At least 17 new
coronavirus cases were confirmed in
Lahore on Saturday alone.
 According to the latest report on
primary and secondary healthcare of
coronavirus patients, the number of
confirmed patients in Punjab reached
152 by 1:45 am on Sunday. So far,
coronavirus has been confirmed in
120 pilgrims, one person in Multan
and Rawalpindi each, three in Gujrat,
two in Jhelum and four in Gujranwala
Usman Buzdar
I urge all the citizens to act responsibly & stay at
home for the next 2 days as per the restrictions
imposed for #Social Distancing

Isolation and quarantines are tools

used in the early stages of fighting the
Coronavirus, we were told. It seems
that Imran Khan’s administration
took this a bit too literally. Instead of
leading the people in the fight against
the deadly virus, the government
under Imran Khan has gone into
isolation and quarantine. The number
of confirmed coronavirus patients in
HUZAIFA FAHEEM
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PUNJAB GOVT. ORDERS ALL
EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTES TO
SHUT DOWN UNTIL APRIL 5
MOHAMMAD SALEH ALI
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LAHORE: To prevent children and
students from getting infected by the
coronavirus pandemic, the government of
Punjab has ordered all educational
institutes, including private ones,
throughout the province to remain closed
till April 5, Pakistan Today learnt on
Friday.
It may be noted here that Convent of
Jesus and Mary School, Aitchison
College and Lahore University of
Management Sciences (LUMS) had
already also announced the closure of
their institutions till the same dates as
notified by the government of Punjab
before the provincial government’s
formal announcement, keeping in view
the concern of the parents for their
children.
While different schools issued alerts on
their social media pages and websites, the
alert on Aitchison College’s website says,
“In the event that this extended general
quarantine is not approved, we can hold
Senior Mock examinations as planned in
three large spaces, including the Senior
School, Old Building and SKH, to ensure
that there is maximum seating space
between boys.”
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BASIC PROTECTIVE MEASURE

AGAINST THE CORONAVIRUS

MEDICAL EMERGENCY IN PROVINCE

when you cough or sneeze. Then
dispose of the used tissue
Keeping in view the situation of the pandemic, immediately.
the government of Punjab has also imposed
SECTION-145 emergency in the
province.

Coronavirus updates, March 22:

Regularly and thoroughly clean your hands with an alcohol-based hand rub or wash them with soap and water. Maintain at least 1 metre (3 feet) distance between yourself and anyone who is coughing or sneezing. Hands touch many surfaces and can pick up viruses. Once contaminated, hands can transfer the virus to your eyes, nose or mouth. From there, the virus can enter
your body and can make you sick.

Latest news on the coronavirus

outbreak from Pakistan and
around the world

Total confirmed cases: 761

Droplets spread virus. By
 Sindh: 333
following good respiratory
 Punjab:hygiene,
222 you protect the people
 Khyberaround
Pakhtunkhwa: 31 such as
you from viruses
 cold, flu
Baluchistan: 108 and COVID-19. Stay
home if you feel unwell. If you
 Islamabad Capital Territory: 11
have a fever, cough and difficulty
 Gilgit-Baltistan: 55 medical attention
breathing, seek
 AJK: 01and call in advance. Follow the
directions of your local health
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa:
authority. 03
Sindh: 01
National and local authorities will
Deaths: 04 have the most up to date
information on the situation in
Make sure you, and the people your area. Calling in advance will
around you, follow good allow your health care provider to
respiratory hygiene. This means quickly direct you to the right
covering your mouth and nose health facility. This will also
with your bent elbow or tissue protect you and help prevent
MOHAMMAD SALEH ALI

spread of viruses and other
infections.
People may experience:
 Runny nose
 Sore throat
 Cough
 Fever
 Difficulty breathing
(severe cases)
Stay at home if you begin to feel
unwell, even with mild symptoms
such as headache and slight runny
nose, until you recover. Avoiding
contact with others and visits to
medical facilities will allow these
facilities to operate more
effectively and help protect you
and others from possible COVID-
19 and other viruses. If you
develop fever, cough and
difficulty breathing, seek medical
advice promptly as this may be
MOHAMMAD SALEH ALI
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due to a respiratory infection or
other serious condition. Call in
advance and tell your provider of
any recent travel or contact with
travelers. Calling in advance will
allow your health care provider to
quickly direct you to the right
health facility. This will also help
to prevent possible spread of
COVID-19 and other viruses. To
help parents interact
constructively with their children
during this time of confinement,
these six one-page tips for parent’s
cover planning one-on-one time,
staying positive, creating a daily
routine, avoiding bad behavior,
managing stress, and talking about
COVID-19. Use them to your and
your kids’ advantage, and have
fun in doing so.