Government issues SOPs for schools
The Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training issued standard operating procedures (SOPs) and health guidelines for educational institutions expected to reopen on September 15. In a circular distributed to schools and colleges, the heads of these institutions were asked to complete preparations per SOPs for the resumption of classes, as well as to convene with students and parents to take them on board
7,000 healthcare workers dead globally
According to Amnesty International, the pandemic has claimed the lives of approximately 7,000 healthcare professionals the world over. Mexico bore the greatest loss with 1,320 healthcare workers succumbing to the virus, while the USA followed with 1,077, the UK with 649, Brazil with 634, Russia with 631, and India with 573. The Pakistan Medical Association estimates that the virus had claimed the lives of around 300 healthcare professionals, including doctors, nurses, paramedics, and support staff in the country till date.
COVID-19 situation in Punjab
25 infections were reported in the Islamabad Capital Territory and Rawalpindi on Thursday, September 3, with no deaths for the 17th consecutive day. Meanwhile, Punjab recorded 62 fresh coronavirus cases in the same timeframe while suffering a single death.
COVID-19 situation in KP
Only 20 coronavirus patients are admitted to intensive care units (ICUs) in hospitals across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, while the use of ventilators has gone down by 84% as COVID-19 cases continue to decline in the province. A total of 1,255 have succumbed to the pandemic while 34,171 of 36,340 (90%) of all virus patients in KP have managed to recover so far.
Swabi hotel staff test positive
A hotel in Swabi, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, was sealed on Thursday as eight staff members tested positive for the virus, taking the active case count in the region from 26 to 34. District authorities expressed their concern over a possible outbreak as the hotel was frequented by many, and staff and customers did not observe SOPs.