"Covid positive," she shared in a short tweet.

The PML-N leader has addressed several rallies in recent days as part of the party's campaign for the upcoming by-polls in Punjab.

This is not the first time she has contracted the coronavirus. She previously tested positive in July last year.

Since the emergence of the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan in February 2020, several top politicians and government officials have tested positive, including President Arif Alvi, PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PPP Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari. They have since recovered.

Health experts have cautioned of a sixth coronavirus wave and stressed that there is a dire need for people to resume wearing face masks and maintain social distancing at public places to prevent the fast transmission of the new variants.

During the last 24 hours, the country reported 737 new cases and 10 fatalities. The positivity rate was recorded at 3.3 per cent.

On Friday, she took to her Instagram stories to share the news with her followers. Farooq mentioned that luckily, she hadn’t come in contact with a lot of people the day her symptoms started showing. “My symptoms were really bad and the past few days have been horrible — the fever and the body aches are unbearable,” she wrote, adding that she will be spending her Eid in isolation.

After she shared her plans of following the safety protocol, she requested her followers to remember her in their prayers.

Farooq also urged them to take precautions this Eid for their loved ones’ sake. “Better to have a safe Eid than a sorry Eid,” she concluded and sent them her love.

On Tuesday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued new guidelines for people to practice this Eidul Azha to curb the resurgence of Covid-19 in the country. They stated that Eid prayers should be organised in open spaces “under stringent Covid protocols”.

The NCOC further instructed people to refrain from shaking hands and hugging each other — as per the Eid ritual — to avoid the chances of contracting the disease. As for the qurbani [sacrifice] itself, the guidelines recommended people to opt for “central and collective *qurbani”,* while adhering to Covid-19 SOPs.

During the talk, the Turkish president offered prayers for the victims of the devastating floods in Balochistan. The monsoon rains this year have wreaked havoc, killing over 50 people in the province so far.

PM Shehbaz, on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan, conveyed warm greetings to the people of Turkiye on the occasion of Eidul Azha, which were reciprocated by Erdogan. The prime minister recalled his recent visit to Turkiye and the warm hospitality extended to him and his delegation, the state broadcaster's report stated.

The two dignitaries also exchanged views on regional and international peace and security matters, including the enhancing of cooperation to address global energy and food crises.

In his remarks, the prime minister resolved to enhance the bilateral cooperation between the two countries in areas of trade, investment, energy and other important sectors. He said he was looking forward to welcoming President Erdogan for the 7th Session of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council (HLSCC) in Pakistan in September this year.

Earlier in the day, the premier felicitated the Muslim ummah and overseas Pakistani on Eidul Azha. In a tweet, he said that the holy day was a message of sacrifice and complete submission to Allah, stressing that Muslims across the world will have to play a collective role in helping the deserving and destitute.

On Friday, the PM also had telephonic conversations with President of UAE Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamin Bin Hamad Al Thani.

The child's death occurred due to drowning, in the Leh Nullah in Rawalpindi's Colony area, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122 told Dawn.com. The spokesperson said two friends had dared each other to jump in the Nullah, following which one of them drowned. A search operation was ongoing to recover the child's body, he added.

Meanwhile, four children who had fallen into the capital's Korang Nullah while playing were rescued safely, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Irfan Nawaz Memon said. He appealed to people to stay away from drains during the rainy season.

Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) data showed 39mm of rain had fallen around the Leh Nullah in Pindi, 55mm in Saidpur village, 54mm in Golra, 36mm in Chaklala and 11mm in Shamsabad till the filing of this report.

Meanwhile, the managing director of Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Tanveer Ahmed, said 60mm of rainfall was recorded in the twin cities, adding that water levels had risen to 12 feet in the area around Leh Nullah in Pindi's Katarian and nine feet in Gawalmandi.

The capital's low-lying sector H-13 as well as homes in Pindi's Sadiqabad, Shamsabad, Dhok Kala Khan and Awan Colony were flooded, while rainwater also accumulated on the garrison city's Jamia Masjid Road and Murree Road.

As much as five feet of rainwater had accumulated in Sadiqabad.

Residents in another area, New Lalazar, climbed to their rooftoops as rainwater started entering homes and vehicles were submerged.

A spokesperson for Wasa said Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner Tahir Farooq and MD Wasa visited the Leh Nullah to ascertain the situation.

The spokesperson said the water level had risen to 12 feet at Gawalmandi bridge. However, the water level was not expected to rise further because rain had stopped on Leh Nullah's catchment area, he added.

"We are keeping a close eye on the situation and all institutions have been put on alert," the deputy commissioner said.

Weather forecast

The Pakistan Meteorological Department said in a statement that monsoon currents were entering the country and might continue for the next 24 to 48 hours.

The monsoon currents were likely to strengthen over the weekend, it added. The PMD predicted rain, along with thunder, in the capital, Kashmir, Swat, Mansehra, Kohistan, Abbottabad, Haripur, Peshawar, Mardan, Swabi, Nowshera, Rawalpindi, Murree, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Sargodha, Hafizabad, Sialkot, Narowal, Mianwali, Bhakkar, Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Sheikhupura, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh and Okara from July 5 (today) to the morning of July 7.

"Heavy falls are also expected in Kashmir, Peshawar, Mardan, Kurram, Dir, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Islamabad, Potohar region, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Hafizabad, Lahore, Faisalabad and Sargodha," it said.

Furthermore, rain, accompanied by heavy winds and thunder, was forecasted for Zhob, Ziarat, Barkhan, Loralai, Kohlu, Quetta, Kalat, Khuzdar, Lasbella, Naseerabad, Sibbi, Panjgur, Turbat, Pasni, Gwadar, Ormara, Kech, Awaran, Kharan, Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Karachi, Thatta and Badin from July 5 to 7.

The Met department warned that the heavy rain could cause urban flooding in Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Lahore, Gujranwala and Sialkot on July 5 and 6.

Moreover, drains in Islamabad and Rawalpindi, Kashmir, Khuzdar, Lasbela, Naseerabad, Gwadar, Awaran, Barkhan, Bolan and Kohlu could experience flash floods during the forecast period.

Rainfall may trigger landslides in Kashmir, Galiyat, Murree, Chillas, Diamir, Gilgit, Hunza, Astore and Skardu, the PMD said in the statement.