COVID-19: Pakistan fears more deaths in May, upward curve to flatten in June

Islamabad: With a daily addition of almost 1,000 COVID-19 cases to its tally, Pakistan fears the upward trend will continue in May and the current number of 17,000 cases could increase to 150,000 to 160,000 by the end of the month.

Not only coronavirus cases will increase but the resultant deaths due to the deadly virus will also shoot up this month, health officials fear.

Pakistan on May 1 recorded 16,900 cases of coronavirus with 385 deaths so far while 4,315 have recovered.

According to official statistics, May could be the worst month in this regard (registration of new cases of coronavirus as well as deaths) and the number of deaths could rise to 1,200-1,300 by May 15.

At present, Pakistan’s only hope against coronavirus is its past record of registering lower numbers of deaths than what was being predicted.

Currently, Pakistan’s actual number of deaths is 20 per cent lower than the projected number and Prime Minister Imran Khan has also referred to this good sign in his media interactions a day earlier.

According to the data, the curve will continue its upward trend in the month of May and will flatten only in June, giving the much sought after relief to patients as well as those engaged in the battle against the virus.

Meanwhile, the Sindh government on Friday distanced itself from a possible ease in the lockdown in coming days. Imran a day earlier had indicated an easing of the lockdown by allowing more relaxations on business activities.

Imran, addressing a press briefing after chairing a meeting on the impact of COVID-19, had quoted several countries that had opened all businesses by maintaining a ban on public gatherings and by putting in place a smart lockdown.

Adviser to Chief Minister Sindh and Spokesperson for the provincial government, Senator Murtaza Wahab, promptly responding to Imran Khan’s media briefing, put to rest all the speculation of a possible ease in the lockdown saying the restrictions on business activities would remain in place until the end of Ramadan.

We have issued a notification in this regard according to which restriction on timing for coming out of homes from 5pm to 8am with the exceptions already given in the order dated April 14, 2020 shall continue, he told the media.

The provincial government has allowed online business activities in Karachi and elsewhere in Sindh and they will be allowed to operate with certain Standard Operating Procedures in place, said the adviser to the chief minister. If need be, stricter measures will be taken to ensure the lockdown is followed during May, said the Sindh government’s spokesperson.

Businesses allowed from 8am to 5pm for permissible activities with certain exceptions shall continue, he said, adding that exceptions will be given to dairy shops to operate until 8pm, subject to the condition that there will be no selling of samosa, pakora, jalebi and other such items.