Global Journal of Life Sciences and Biological Research
Open Access

OVERVIEW on STATUS of COVID 19 in PAKISTAN and its PREVALENCE in WORLD PERSPECTIVE

^*Correspondence: Ali Umar, Department of Zoology, University of Okara, Okara, Pakistan, Tel: 00923454912171, Email:

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Introduction

Coronaviruses (CoVs) belong to family Coronoviridae with having a single-stranded RNA genome and covered by a proteinoid envelope. The viruses from this family can infect birds and mammals including humans. MERS and SARS are two human diseasesthat are caused by these viruses. In the past, these two infections affected ten thousand people with a fatality rate of 37% & 10% for MERS-CoV and SARS-CoV respectively.Earlier, CoVs affected the human population when Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Middle Eastern syndrome (MERS) emerged in Middle Eastern countries including Saudi Arabia in 2012. COVID-19 a pandemic viral infection caused by corona virus which outbreaks from Wuhan and spreads all around the world (Wu and McGoogan 2020).

According to world o meter currently confirmed cases in all affected countries are 10709132 along with 517337 deaths and 5802861 recoveries (as of 10:00 PKT, September 20, 2020). China controls this pandemic by imposing lockdown and quarantine measures. Outside China, South Korea was the first country that was infected by this virus. They also slower the pandemic rate through quarantine measures without imposing lockdown.

According to world o meter, Pakistan ranked 19th among 233 countries facing the worst pandemic. To slow down the pandemic on March 22, 2020, Prime Minister of Pakistan declared a 14-day lockdown till 5th April to break the chain of coronavirus prevalence, followed by, continuing nationwide lockdown till 30th April 2020.However, adding new cases and deaths are increasing day by day.

The compiled data on COVID-19 from different sources including web pages, official websites, research papers. For Pakistan, it was taken from the covid19 in Pakistan.org a data-sharing portal that provides daily updates about new and total confirmed pandemic cases, deaths, and recoveries all around the country. This data is similar to the information provided by the Health Advisory Platform by the Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and Coordination, Government of Pakistan, and also with PakistanHealthResearch Council(PHRC). We collected information on death and recovery for the period fromFebruary to September 20, 2020, for the most affected provinces, states, and even districts. Data were extracted from the World health organization, world o meter, and John Hopkins University for all other affected countries (WHO 2020; World o Meter, 2020). CFR is defined as the ratio between the total number of deaths due to pandemic COVID-19 and total infected individuals from pandemic COVID-19.The case recovery rate is the subtraction of CFR from a hundred.

PREVALENCE RATE, CASE FATALITY AND CASE RECOVERY RATE OF COVID-19 AROUND THE GLOBE

COVID-19 outbreak starts from Wuhan, China in late 2019 and shortly spread in 213 countries and destinations with31,932,500 confirmed cases till September 20, 2020 (World o Meter, 2020). Patients of COVID-19 were firstly reported in Japan, Thailand,and the southernpart ofKorea after an outbreak from China. However, the prevalence and death rates were higher in Italy (Onder et al., 2020).Some factors such as gathering, traveling for commercial purposes,or tourism may enhance prevalence. Table1 shows the Prevalence rate, CRR, and CFR of COVID-19 around the world. Chile has a much higher prevalence rate and lowest in China. The total number of cases and deaths and recoveries are higher in the USA than any other country in the world. However, CFR is much higher in the UK followed by Italy with 15.55 % and 14.6% respectively.

Table 1: Prevalence rate, CRR and CFR of COVID-19 around the world

Fig 1: Case fatality rate and case recovery ratearound the world

STATUS OF COVID-19 IN PAKISTAN

The first case of COVID-19 was reported on February 26, 2020, when a student returned from Iran and tested positive in Karachi.On March 18, 2020 cases started to register from all around the country including capital and autonomous territories. Till September 20, 2020, 305,671 cases, 293,916 recoveries, and 6416 deaths were registered around the country. Most cases (133,626) are reported from Sindh followed by Punjab (98,368). Morever, deaths were higher in Sindh .Vaccine trials are started with the collaboration of a Chinese pharmaceutical company named Sinopharm in April 2020. Table 2 elaborates all confirmed cases, deaths, recoveries, prevalence, CFR, and CRR in provenances of Pakistan. Higher CFR was recorded in AJK and lowest in the Baluchistan

Table 2: COVID-19 Prevalence, CFR& CRR in Provinces and states of Pakistan

Fig 2: Percentage prevalence of COVID 19 confirmed cases among total populationin Pakistan

IN PUNJAB

On 12^thMarch 2020, the Government of Punjab, Pakistan announced a health and medical emergency in the cabinet meeting. Quarantine facilities were established in DG Khan for people returning from Iran. The administration decided to close markets, shopping malls, public places, and even transport on March 22, 2020. The first death of 57 years old Afesayab resident of Sheikhupura in Mio Hospital, Lahore was reported on March 24, 2020. Till now a higher number of positive cases (49482) were recorded in the provincial capital Lahore and least in Jauhrabad (295). Pandemic has been spread to the entire province in all 36 districts.

Table 3: COVID 19 cases, deaths, prevalence, CFR, CRR in different districts of Punjab

IN SINDH

Sindh is a second populated province of Pakistan with 47.89 Million population. The total number of COVID 19 positive cases was 133,626 till September 20, 2020, in Sindh. The first COVID 19 positive case was reported in Karachi Pakistan; a student with foreign traveling history. Table 4 represents COVID 19 prevalence, district wise total cases, case fatality rate, and recovery rate.A much higher prevalence rate is reported in Karachi followed by Korongi & Malir (19802), Hyderabad (4804) and Sukkur .However, the case fatality rate is higher in the area of Malir and Korongi.

Table 4: Trend of COVID 19 among various districts of Sindh

IN KPK

KPK ranked 3^rd in COVID 19 cases but the case fatality rate is much higher compared to other provenance of Pakistan. Peshawar which is the capital of KPK has 13959 (till September 20, 2020) positive cases and hit the highest prevalence rate. However, the case fatality rate reported higher in Bajaur and Abbatabad .Table 5 shows total cases of COVID 19, Total deaths, prevalence rate, CFR %, district wise.

Table 5: Statistical representation of COVID 19 in KPK

IN BALUCHISTAN

Baluchistan is not much populated as Punjab and Sindh. 14269 cases were reported among 12.34 million population. 145 patients died with a 1.02% case fatality rate due to corona however 12969 people recovered. Most cases 9625 of COVID 19 are reported in Quetta, the capital city. The total number of deaths is also higher in Quetta, but CFR was higher in Chaghi at 1.44 %. 948 and 569 cases of COVID 19 are reported in Jafarabad and Mastung respectively. All other cities carry 2597 cases and 27 deaths (Table 6).

Table 6: District wise COVID 19 statistics in Baluchistan

IN GILGIT BALTISTAN

Gilgit Baltistan isthe northern region which is administrated by Pakistan. COVID 19 also affected this region. 3450 people were reported as COVID 19 positive where 3036 have been recovered and 28 people died. Gilgit, Baltistan, and Diamer are three divisions of this region. 1721 people are tested positive in Gilgit division,1134 in Baltistan,and 595 in the Diamer region. 44 patients have died in the Gilgit region whereas 21 and 16 patients have died in Baltistan and Diamer region respectively.

Table 7: Population, total cases, deaths, and CFR in GilgitBaltistan

IN AJ&K

Among 4.05 million people 2517 people are affected by COVID 19, 2257 people recovered successfully, and 67 patients had died. Among 10 districts of AJ&K, Muzaffarabad was the most affected area and least in Neelam Valley. 951 cases are confirmed in Muzaffarabad whereas 44 cases are reported in Neelam Valley. 342 and 237 people are affected by COVID 19 in Kotli and Bhimber respectively. CFR is recorded higher in Poonch district (9.73%) followed by Sudhanoti (6.25%) and Bagh (Table 8).

The highest number of deaths was recorded in Sindh followed by Punjab, KPK, and Gilgit Baltistan when the total number of deaths wasa count (Fig.3).

Fig 3: percentage of death rate recorded in different provenance of Pakistan

CONCLUSION AND SUMMARY

COVID-19 outbreak starts from Wuhan, China in late 2019 and enters Pakistan on February 26, 2020. However, the influx of positive cases was started onMarch 18, 2020. Till september 20, 2020,a total of 305,671 cases, 293,916 recoveries, and 6416 deaths are registered around the country. Most cases are reported in Sindh (133626) followed by Punjab (98368) and KPK (37317). Currently, COVID 19 controlling vaccine is not invented yet but vaccine trails are started with the collaboration of a Chinese pharmaceutical company named Sinopharm in April 2020.

REFERENCES

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2. Govt. of Pakistan. (September 20, 2020). Coronavirus in Pakistan - Confirmed Cases.COVID-19 Health Advisory Platform by Ministry of National Health Services Regulations and 2002 to Coordination.http://covid.gov.pk/stats/pakistan
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