COVID Watch | 07th July 2020

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COVID Watch

KP COVID-19 Patients Decline

The World Health Organization has noted a marked decline in the number of COVID-19 patients in hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The number of admitted patients in public and private hospitals across the province dropped from a total of 907 on June 30 to 495 by July 6. Three major hospitals, Lady Reading Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex and Khyber Teaching Hospital reported fewer COVID-19 admissions in the past week. People in self-isolation in their homes have also dropped from 11,667 on June 30 to 9,803 by July 6.

Women’s Earnings Threatened by Pandemic

COVID-19 and response policies meant to curtail the spread of the virus have inadvertently adversely affected economic opportunities for women, calling for grassroots policies at governmental and non-governmental levels to rehabilitate affected women, entrepreneurs and labourers. As such, the Aurat Foundation in collaboration with the South Asia Partnership have launched the Jazba project aimed at increasing opportunities for women’s participation in economic and political activities.

WHO Lauds Pakistan’s Pandemic Efforts

Director-General of the World Health Organization, Dr. Tedros Adhanom, lauded Pakistan’s efforts in buffering its healthcare sector amidst the coronavirus pandemic during a meeting with Prime Minister Imran Khan. The Prime Minister also requested the WHO to issue traveling directives to prevent discrimination against poorer nations in international travel.

Remdesivir to be Available In 3 Weeks

The Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) has announced that remdesivir, a drug reported to have shown encouraging results in treating virus-afflicted patients, will be available in Pakistan within

three weeks. DRAP has issued import licenses to two pharmaceutical companies and manufacturing licenses to 14 local producers for the drug.

New Hotspots Identified in Rawalpindi

District authorities have identified four new localities (Dhoke Khabba, Gulistan Colony, Range Road, and PIA Colony) in Rawalpindi as coronavirus hotspots, and are awaiting permission from the Punjab government to seal the areas for a week. Meanwhile, eight previously identified locales in the city have been re-opened after temporary lockdown.