The federal government on Sunday warned that the prospect of a second wave of coronavirus infections across country will no longer be a distant theory if the government-devised standard operating procedures (SOPs) are violated on Eid ul Azha and Muharram. “The virus had peaked in the country in mid-June and cases have been declining since then. The experience of other countries has shown that there could be a spike in cases again. We saw this in Spain, Iran, the United States and other European countries that there can be a resurgence in cases,” he told a press conference here.
Talking about the danger of the virus spreading during Eid celebrations, Mirza said that the government has learned from last Eid’s experience and has started preparations earlier. “During the last few weeks, we discussed SOPs with provinces and adopted a strategy at the national level,” he said, and urged the people to follow SOPs while visiting cattle markets. “Wear a mask, maintain social distancing and wash your hands frequently,” he instructed, adding that elderly or sick people should not visit the markets.
Meanwhile, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz said the government has adopted a balanced strategy to cope with the challenge of coronavirus pandemic effectively. Addressing a news conference along with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus and Focal Person to the PM on Covid-19 Dr Faisal Sultan, Faraz said Pakistan introduced the smart lockdown policy to save precious lives and livelihood of people. The Pakistani model was being replicated in many countries in the world, he added.
He said many countries which observed strict lockdown to stop spread of this global epidemic were now facing economic hardships and rising death toll. He said the National Command and Operation Centre has played a vital role and managed the situation scientifically with analysing data on daily basis. He said the pandemic is in control but it is still prevalent and carelessness may prove costly. He appealed to the masses to adopt SOPs on the occasion of Eidul Azha as it was necessary to defeat the pandemic.
The minister said in February, when the first case of coronavirus was reported in Pakistan, there was no data available, doctors and paramedics had no training to handle this disease, healthcare system was weak and economy not very good shape. Keeping in mind these facts, the government adopted a strategy, he said.
He said some elements not interested in welfare of masses criticised Imran Khan’s strategy but the PM showed steadfastness and refused to budge under pressure. He said those supporting blanket lock down were representing elite class but Imran Khan showed determination and with the grace Allah Almighty the strategy paid off and the cases started coming down.
Prime Minister’s Focal Person on Coronavirus Dr Faisal Sultan said the government had adopted an effective strategy to combat Covod-19 that resulted in reduction of corona cases in the country. He said present facts and figures of the disease show a declining trend of Coronavirus at all level due to prompt response of the government on the directions of Prime Minister Imran Khan. Expressing satisfaction over current Covod-19 situation, he said this was all made possible due to team efforts and efficient work of the NCOC.
He said the main focus of the strategy was to control the disease on one hand and maintain business activities of small and poor traders on the other hand. He added that such strategy was successfully implemented to get results. He said all concerned federal and provincial and public and private institutions played a remarkable role under NCOC against the disease. He also acknowledged the role of frontline health workers including doctors and nurses.
Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) on Digital Pakistan Tania Aidrus said Prime Minister Imran Khan’s smart lockdown policy had helped in curtailing the spread of coronavirus in the country. She said Pakistan was not in a position to afford a complete lockdown policy due to its negative impact on the country’s economy and life of common man. “From the beginning, the PM focused on adopting a policy, which should not only help control the Covid-19 but also avoid negative impact on economy and life of common man,” she added.
She said soon after the surfacing of Covid-19, the government had decided to take decision keeping in view the difficulties of general public. She said the government had taken difficult decisions in the best interest of the country.
