The healthcare system is extremely burdened with the number of cases increasing by the day
Prime Minister Imran Khan has warned the nation that if people did not start acting upon the SOPs, Pakistan could soon face a coronavirus situation as bad as currently in India. India currently is reporting over 300,000 new cases every day with a severe shortage of oxygen.
He said that the government will have no option but to lock down major cities if the trend continues. Khan added that lockdowns will hurt the daily wagers, a major factor why the government wants to avoid extreme measures.
“If our circumstances become the same as India, then we will have to close down cities. We can’t do that because, as experience has shown, the poor suffer the most when lockdowns are imposed,” the prime minister said. “People are telling me to impose a lockdown today, but we are not going to do so because, and I keep repeating this, daily wagers and laborers will suffer the most.”
New restrictions
Newer restrictions have been announced in order to curb the coronavirus. Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar said that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had been delegated with the duty to formulate a plan with the provinces in light of rising coronavirus cases.
The updated restrictions will see early closures of offices and businesses in general. The minister also urged people to shop for Eid during the daytime. He also emphasized on the work from home policy for 50% of the employees to reduce the risk of spreading COVID-19.
“Markets will be allowed to remain open till 6 pm. After that, only essential services will be allowed to operate and a specific list of such businesses will be issued,” Umar said. “Office timings have been limited to 2 pm because shops are open till 6 pm and we want that people have enough time to visit markets.”
Higher positivity rates a major concern
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan said that with around 3,500 daily cases during the first Covid wave, the healthcare facilities were burdened. The numbers have been rising in the current wave. He said that 90% of the available oxygen is being used at the moment.
“However, now the number is above 4,600,” he said. “Apart from this, the positivity rate is continuously hovering at 10% which tells us the extent of the spread of the disease,” Sultan said. “The result of this is that it puts pressure on our healthcare system as well as doctors, nurses and other medical professionals.”
Extra caution is the order of the day as Pakistan’s daily cases now hover around 6,000 a day. It is crucial that people stay away from crowds and ensure that they remain healthy. The healthcare system needs lesser pressure than what it is facing at the moment.