Punjab warned of the second wave
The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department has issued an alert to the district administration and police on a possible second wave, owing to mass violations of health guidelines and lack of SOP implementation observed in market places across the province. The alert also requested the district administration to ensure the implementation of regulations in letter and spirit as the threat to public health has yet to completely wane.
Active cases less than 14,000
Pakistan’s active cases have fallen to 13,952 from around 16,000 on August 14, as 488 new cases emerged across the country on August 16. A total of seven COVID-19 fatalities were recorded on the same day, with five reported in Sindh while Punjab reported no virus-related mortalities.
Chinese vaccine to be trialed in Pakistan
Pakistan will be supplied with a vaccine candidate developed by Sinopharm, a unit of the China National Pharmaceutical Group as part of a trial agreement between Pakistan and China. Sinopharm will collaborate with the University of Karachi to conduct a clinical trial of the potential vaccine, with doses being administered to risk groups, such as the elderly, those with underlying health conditions, and frontline healthcare workers.