ISLAMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development, Reforms and Special Initiatives Asad Umar pleaded with people on Saturday to abide by coronavirus guidelines to avoid greater restrictions in the face of the country’s third wave of coronavirus infections.
In a press conference after a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) called to review the rampant rise in new infections in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Islamabad and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJ&K), Asad said the restrictions were tightened two weeks ago due to a surge in fresh infections but observed compliance was not as religious as it should be.
The government portal keeping track of the outbreak in the country reported 4,468 new infections of the coronavirus after conducting 44,279 tests, receiving back an alarming positivity ratio of 10.09 per cent. 67 deaths were also reported in the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 14,158.
Asad, who also heads the NCOC, lamented people failing to understand how dangerous the situation is. “The new mutations that have been emerged, especially the United Kingdom variant [of the virus], are more infectious and deadlier,” he said.
The variant–B.1.1.7, also known as VOC (“variant of concern”) 202012/01–drove a surge in cases that flooded England’s hospitals, pushed its death toll above 125,000, and triggered travel bans by dozens of countries.
Comparing the domestic situation to the rest of South Asia, the minister said the same variants appeared to be spreading in India and Bangladesh as well. India on Saturday reported 62,258 new infections, its highest since October, taking its tally to 11.91 million. The death toll rose by 291 to stand at 161,240.
The government believes the situation has reached a dangerous point now because of the latest hospital admissions [with Covid-related complications],” Asad said, adding that it was the most important factor due to the pressure it placed on the country’s already burdened healthcare infrastructure.
“In the first wave, the peak of critical care patients was around 3,200 nationwide. In the second wave, it was 2,511; so less than the first wave. But in the third wave, it is currently at 2,842,” he said, citing government data.
“More dangerously, in the past 12 days, this number has increased by 1,000. If this rate continues, then within the next week we will have crossed the level of the first wave.”
On Friday, Pakistan registered more than 4,000 cases in 24 hours for the first time since July, up from 3,946 a day earlier. The majority of the new cases were reported in Punjab, accounting for 2,451 (56.1 per cent) of the tally.
Asad, while observing that hospitals in major cities had not run out of space yet, informed reports have started coming in of people having difficulty in securing hospital admissions. “This information is not being shared to spread fear, but just to inform the public so we can all work together to overcome this,” he said.
“We have to unite to combat the pandemic by stopping it from reaching a level where people’s livelihoods are impacted. If we do not take immediate steps, we could reach a point where we have to implement further restrictions. It is my request to all the political leadership, whether ours [PTI’s] or the Opposition, that this is the time of showing leadership and spreading this message that we together have to once again combat this disease, which is spreading, and defend the people.”
On Friday, the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) had cancelled a demonstration to commemorate the death anniversary of its founder and former prime minister Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, planned for April 4, due to the rise in coronavirus cases in Punjab.
The NCOC session was attended by Punjab and KP chief ministers and Islamabad commissioner via video link. Provincial chief, home and health secretaries also joined the session virtually.
The agenda included a discussion on the rising trend of the contagious disease, implementation status of high impact interventions and state of critical medical facilities, including oxygenated beds, vents and other facilities, the NCOC said.
Violations were reported from the transport and hospitality sectors, and from weddings, commercial activities and public gatherings, the NCOC added.
BUZDAR EXPRESSES CONCERN:
In the last 24 hours, Punjab reported 48 deaths due to the coronavirus, raising casualties to 6,190.
It also reported 2,330 new infections, taking the tally of confirmed cases to 210,095. Provincial authorities recorded the transmission rate at 14.14 per cent after conducting 16,473 tests. With 1,245 new recoveries, 182,596 people have recovered from the pandemic.
In a statement issued after a meeting held to review the coronavirus situation in the province, Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar expressed concerns over the rising number of cases and directed the authorities to implement government-devised health protocols rigorously.
He said no negligence would be tolerated on standard operating procedures (SOPs).
He said the third wave of the pandemic is more dangerous than the previous two and it could be overcome with the cooperation of the people. He also urged people to wear face coverings in public places.
During the meeting, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawad Rafique Malik briefed Buzdar about the latest Covid-19 situation and measures taken to control its spread.
LOCKDOWN IN LAHORE AREAS:
Following an alarming rise in the city’s coronavirus positivity ratio, the government imposed lockdowns in several areas of Lahore till April 9. The areas include PIA Society, Architect Society, NFC Society, and some blocks of DHA, Allama Iqbal Town, Johar Town and Valencia Town amongst others.
Moreover, the Lahore administration announced that anyone not wearing a mask will be thrown in jail.
A meeting was held on Saturday under the chairmanship of the Lahore police chief and Commissioner Lahore Muhammad Usman, in which the coronavirus situation was discussed and important decisions were taken.
The commissioner ordered strict implementation of the mask-wearing rule. He said that those who do not wear masks will be detained and may face a jail term of up to six months.
According to the commissioner, violators will have a case registered against them and this new injunction will go into effect from today (Saturday).
Usman said that for this purpose, the Lahore administration officials and police will routinely patrol the streets and take stern action against those not adhering to the rule.
Separately, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Lahore Ghulam Mehmood Dogar ordered the police to ensure the implementation of all government guidelines, especially in marriage halls and public places.
In this regard, the CCPO has also warned that any vehicles whose passengers are found seated without a mask will be impounded. “Citizens must ensure they wear a mask before they leave their homes,” he said.
He ordered all traffic police on the roads to issue warnings to motorcycle and rickshaw drivers if found not wearing a mask.
