ISLAMABAD — Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan has examined positive for the coronavirus, officers mentioned.
Mr. Khan is isolating at house and is anticipated to stay in isolation for a minimum of 10 days, officials said. “The prime minister has a mild cough and fever,” mentioned Dr. Faisal Sultan, the nation’s de facto well being minister. “A team of doctors is treating him.”
The prime minister obtained his first vaccine dose of a Covid vaccine on Thursday, and officers mentioned it appeared that he had been contaminated earlier than the inoculation. Government ministers and different officers who had contact with Mr. Khan in the previous three days are actually additionally getting examined for the virus. Protection from a vaccine sometimes takes a while to kick in, and two doses of most vaccines are wanted for most safety.
Mr. Khan, 68, a former cricket player, is usually thought-about to be in superb well being. But critics say he has been somewhat informal about sporting a masks. During an inauguration of presidency tasks on Friday, Mr. Khan could possibly be seen in footage with no masks whereas assembly officers.
Pakistan is going through a 3rd wave of the pandemic, with a spike in its positivity charge in current weeks. “It is very alarming” mentioned Dr. Sultan, who famous that the rate had risen to 9.5 percent.
“The pressure is mounting in the federal capital, Peshawar, Karachi. and major urban centers of Punjab,” he mentioned at a information convention.
The pandemic has sickened greater than 623,000 folks in Pakistan, and greater than 14,000 have died, according to a New York Times database.
Officials have urged the public to watch security protocols, warning {that a} failure to take action might end in stricter restrictions. The rising variety of instances has compelled the authorities to impose restrictions on meals retailers and social gatherings.
Pakistan started its vaccinating residents over 60 this month with the Chinese Sinopharm vaccine.
