PM Imran Khan tests positive for COVID-19; quarantined at home
Doctors say premier may have contracted the virus sometime earlier this week; vaccine has not had enough time to be effective
March 20, 2021
Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday tested positive for coronavirus, following which he has been quarantined at home.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination Faisal Sultan announced the news on Twitter.
The PM Office, too, confirmed on Twitter that PM Khan has tested positive for coronavirus with a short dua from the Quran.
The premier had received a coronavirus shot on Thursday, the Prime Minister's Office had said. Doctors said the vaccine did not have enough time to be effective and that PM Imran Khan may have contracted the virus a few days prior to developing symptoms for it.
After receiving the jab, the prime minister had appealed to the people to continue exercising precaution in view of the third wave of the pandemic.
Fears of a third wave being more lethal came true on Saturday as Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity ratio closed in on 10%.
As per the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan carried out 40,946 tests in the last 24 hours out of which 3,876 returned positive, taking the national positivity ratio to 9.46%.
With the new cases, the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan reached 623,135 and the active cases in the country stand at 29,576.
Who has Prime Minister Imran Khan met in the last two days?
The Prime Minister inaugurated a housing project in Islamabad on the same day he got vaccinated (Thursday). His aide on Overseas Pakistanis, Zulfi Bukhari, was among the government officials attending the event.
After that, PM Khan also met the Kuwait foreign minister. He exchanged documents with the Kuwait FM.
Read more: Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity ratio closes in on 10%
On Friday, PM Khan had visited the Swat Motorway, where Federal Communications Minister Murad Saeed and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan were also present.
PM Imran Khan has a slight fever, cough: Dr Shahbaz Gill
Assistant to Prime Minister of Pakistan on Political Communication Dr Shahbaz Gill said the premier has a slight cough and fever.
He prayed for the quick recovery of the premier and said updates on his health will be given.
Dr Gill urged people not to link the news of PM Khan testing positive for COVID-19 with the vaccine. He said immunity develops some weeks after getting the vaccine.
Can't get COVID-19 from a vaccine: Indus Hospital CEO
Indus Hospital CEO Abdul Bari Khan has refuted reports of there being a possibility that one can get COVID-19 from a vaccine. He said that it is "normal" and "common" to get infected if you have been exposed shortly before being vaccinated.
He told Geo News that antibodies develop after two to three weeks of being vaccinated.
Commenting on the premier getting coronavirus, Khan said the Prime Minister is a healthy man and will hopefully recover without trouble.
Read more: Politicos, journalists react to PM Imran Khan testing positive for coronavirus
Dr Khan said the premier might have been exposed to someone having COVID-19 symptoms before the vaccination.
"The virus multiples over five to six days, following which it can be detected," he explained.
While responding to another question, Dr Bari said antibodies are developed a couple of weeks after receiving a vaccine.
Dr Bari said the efficacy of vaccines is 80% to 90% and there are chances that those who have gotten the jab may be infected but the intensity of the disease would be mild.
"It is proven that if you are properly vaccinated you will not fall severely ill," he said.
