COVID-19: Pakistan mulling complete lockdown if surge in cases not controlled

Karachi: Federal Information and Broadcasting Minister Fawad Chaudhry has warned that the government could be compelled to impose a complete lockdown in the country if there was no decline in surge in coronavirus cases in one week.

Addressing a press conference here at Sindh Governor House, Chaudhry said that there would be serious consequences for the health care system of Pakistan if the present 11 per cent ratio of detection of coronavirus cases persisted just for one or one-and-half-week more.

“Our government has been doing its best since last one year to avoid the situation of complete lockdown in the country as such a decision creates serious repercussions for our daily wage earners and traders,” Chaudhry said.

Less important

He appealed to the concerned traders and businessmen to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) against the spread of coronavirus as the economy would obviously become less important if there was any threat to the lives of people.

“The Prime Minister Imran Khan has so far resisted the proposal to impose complete lockdown as he always tried to impose a system under which the economy doesn’t come to a halt but if in case the situation doesn’t come under control in one week then we will be compelled to think about complete lockdown,” he said.

He informed media persons that up to 90 per cent oxygen available in the country was being consumed to treat the patients of coronavirus.

“Even if we immediately imported oxygen, we would not be able to use it owing to the constraints of our supply network,” said the Information Minister.

He mentioned that in all, 560 ventilators were occupied in the country as up to 83 per cent ICU (Intensive Care Unit) beds were filled in Lahore, 88 per cent in Gujranwala, and 85 per cent in Multan.

Deploy army

He said that only 21 per cent of the Pakistani population had been observing the SOPs against coronavirus as that was why the government had decided to deploy army to ensure observance of the same.

He added the situation in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was particularly worrisome where in some parts detection of coronavirus cases had increased up to 40 per cent.

The Information Minister told media that up to one year was required to secure the target of vaccinating the desired portion of Pakistani population against COVID-19 as there had been serious problems in importing vaccines from all over the world.

“During this one year the people are required to adhere to the SOPs to safeguard their health,” he said.