Dr Zafar Mirza – special assistant to the prime minister on health – contracted coronavirus on Monday, becoming the latest high-ranking government figure to get infected by the deadly virus.

In a tweet, Mirza shared the news and said he had isolated himself at home and was taking all precautions.

https://twitter.com/zfrmrza/status/1280016074449326083

“I have mild symptoms. Please keep me in your kind prayers. Colleagues, keep up the good work! You are making a big difference and I am proud of you,” he added.

Before Mirza, it was Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi who got infected some days back. He is currently being treated in Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi.

https://twitter.com/SMQureshiPTI/status/1279039013534478342

But it was Railways Minister Sheikh Rashid to become the first top cabinet member to test positive for the virus. He too was treated at CMH Rawalpindi and later fully recovered from the infection.

Last week, Mirza had said in a TV talk show that the coronavirus spread would further reduce during the monsoon season but did not elaborate how humid weather can produce the desired result.

The claim looks unfounded given the fact that the US state of Florida – known for hot and humid weather – is currently witnessing an alarming spike in the coronavirus cases.

Also, Brazil is now the second worst-affected country in the world with 1,604,585 cases and 64,900 deaths.