ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has very mild coronavirus symptoms, Pakistan’s health chief said on Saturday evening, after announcements earlier in the day that the PM and the first lady had tested positive for COVID-19.
Khan, 68, tested positive for the virus just two days after he received his first injected dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, as Pakistan earlier this month launched a coronavirus vaccination drive for the general public, starting with those above the age of 60.
“He is in good sprits. His symptoms are very mild. At this time, he does not need direct treatment or intervention,” Dr. Faisal Sultan said in a video press conference.
As a wave of messages wishing the prime minister a speedy recovery followed the news of his illness, Khan on Sunday took to the social media to thank everyone.
“I want to thank everyone for their good wishes and prayers,” he said in an Instagram post.
Khan is self-isolating at home, a close aide of the PM said on Saturday, with another adviser confirming that first lady also had the disease.
“Prime Minister Imran Khan tests positive for coronavirus, is experiencing ‘mild symptoms’. He will self-quarantine at home however will continue to work from home,” Faisal Javed Khan, a senator from the PM’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party, said in a tweet.
Prime Minister Imran Khan tests positive for coronavirus, is experiencing 'mild symptoms'. He will self-quarantine at home however will continue to work from home over video con. Lots of prayers for everyone. Stay Safe
— Faisal Javed Khan (@FaisalJavedKhan) March 20, 2021
The PM’s adviser on overseas Pakistanis, Sayed Zulfiqar Bukhari, wished the PM and first lady a speedy recovery on Twitter:
Wishing our First Lady & PM @ImranKhanPTI a speedy recovery.
May Allah give them both shifa.Vaccines are safe & must be taken, #PMIK had his first shot just a day ago, before which he was exposed already.
Please do get yourself & loved ones vaccinated and fight the fake news! pic.twitter.com/kh7HvD2Qv5— Sayed Z Bukhari (@sayedzbukhari) March 20, 2021
To prevent speculation that the PM’s illness is related to vaccination, Planning Minister Asad Umar took to Twitter to say that Khan must have contracted the virus prior to receiving his vaccine jab.
“The symptoms take a few days before manifesting. Hence it is certain that PM had been infected PRIOR to vaccination,” Umar said in a tweet, as he urged others to not to hesitate to get vaccinated.
May Allah protect him and give him shifa. Some people questioning the efficacy of vaccination since he was vaccinated thursday evening. The symptoms take a few days before manifesting. Hence it is certain that PM had been infected PRIOR to vaccination. So please do vaccinate https://t.co/0ZZBamNVlS
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 20, 2021
The incubation period of COVID-19 — the time between exposure to the virus and symptom onset — is on average five to six days.
It takes at least two weeks after vaccination for the body to acquire immunity against the virus that causes COVID-19.
Pakistan is observing a surge in COVID-19 infections. It reported 3,667 new cases in the last 24 hours.
At least 626,802 COVID-19 cases and 13,843 related deaths have been recorded in the country of 220 million since the beginning of the outbreak.
