Pakistan warns of shutting down big cities if COVID-19 situation does not improve

Islamabad: The coronavirus situation in Pakistan is extremely critical and the country would consider shutting down major cities if the situation does not improve in the coming days, Minister Asad Umar warned on Wednesday.

As the virus is spreading at an alarming rate and hospitals are filling up, “we will have no choice but to close down major cities,” if there is no change in the situation, cautioned Asad Umar who is spearheading the national fight against the virus.

He urged the people to take the pandemic seriously and follow COVID-19 guidelines to protect themselves and their loves ones. “This is the last chance to break the chain” of infections and control the spread, otherwise strict restrictions would have to be imposed in several cities, he said. He also expressed hope that the people would cooperate so the government is not compelled to enforce a strict lockdown.

Detailing the alarming situation in hospitals, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief said that “there are some cities where 80 per cent of the ventilators are in use.” If the number of cases continue to surge, the oxygen supplies may run short, he said. The country is currently utilising 90 per cent of the total oxygen produced as the oxygen supply is reaching “dangerous levels.” There are currently more than 4,500 patients who need oxygen support as compared to 3,400 patients during the peak pandemic period in June 2020, exposing the severe pressure on the healthcare system.

Pakistan has imposed a ban on travellers from India through air and land routes for the next two weeks due to the spread of a new double mutant variant of coronavirus in India. The country is also considering adding more countries to the list to prevent the spread of the India variant in Pakistan. Currently, travellers from at least 23 high-risk countries are not allowed to enter Pakistan.