Pakistan President Alvi tests positive for coronavirus

Tariq Butt, Correspondent / Reuters

Pakistan’s President Arif Alvi has tested positive for COVID-19, he said on Twitter on Monday, after receiving his first dose of a vaccine.

"I have tested positive for Covid-19. May Allah have mercy on all Covid affectees," the president said in a tweet.

"Had (first) dose of vaccine, but antibodies start developing after (second) dose that was due in a week. Please continue to be careful," he said.

Meanwhile, Sindh Governor Imran Ismail announced that Defence Minister Khattak had also been diagnosed with the virus. "Get well soon PK," he wrote.

Coronavirus cases are rising quickly in the South Asian nation and Prime Minister Imran Khan tested positive two days after receiving his first vaccine dose earlier this month with officials saying he had likely been infected before being vaccinated.

Imran Khan is recovering from COVID-19 and may be able to resume work in a few days, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Health Services Dr Faisal Sultan says.

Taking to Twitter, Dr Sultan said that the premier’s lab parameters have remained stable. "He has been advised that he may resume work and build up his work routine over the next few days.”

Dr Sultan said this is in line with national and international guidelines. He also shared the government's "Home Isolation and discharge during COVID-19" guidelines for people's review.

He also provided a link to the "Interim Guidance on Duration of Isolation and Precautions for Adults with COVID-19" issued by the United States Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).