ISLAMABAD: With no let-up within the variety of Covid-19 circumstances, the Nationwide Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday warned that if individuals continued to flout well being pointers, it could haven’t any selection however to order closure of companies once more.
Declaring the transport sector, markets, marriage halls, eating places and public gatherings as high-risk areas, the centre suggested provinces to give attention to them and take steps to stop the unfold of the virus.
These observations have been made after a particular session was held on the NCOC to observe the rising an infection pattern. Chief secretaries of all of the provinces attended the session.
In line with a press release issued by the Ministry of Nationwide Well being Providers, the NCOC has been carefully monitoring the scenario and can take motion if there isn’t a enchancment within the compliance of ordinary working procedures (SOPs).
State of affairs worsening in Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Gilgit, says Dr Sultan
There was a transparent resurgence of the virus and the variety of deaths was additionally growing, the assertion stated, including that the chief secretaries had been requested to strictly implement the SOPs.
“Strict punitive actions on SOPs’ violations will be initiated,” it said.
Later within the night, Particular Assistant to the Prime Minister on Well being Dr Faisal Sultan warned individuals of the worsening scenario in massive cities like Karachi, Hyderabad, Multan, Islamabad, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur and Gilgit.
“If the masses continue to violate health protocols, we can face a similar situation as seen in June this year. It is our collective responsibility to avoid such a situation from arising,” he stated.
As many as 6,825 circumstances of Covid-19 have been reported from throughout the nation on June 14. Nevertheless, the graph began to say no and circumstances fell to round 300 in September. At current, over 600 circumstances are being reported day by day.
Dr Sultan suggested individuals to put on masks and sanitise their palms, guarantee social distancing and keep away from going to crowded locations. He additionally appealed to merchants to not enable prospects into their outlets with out masks.
“Shopkeepers have pasted the sign ‘No Mask No Entry’ outside their outlets, but this is not being followed. It is feared that the number of cases might increase rapidly as 19 people died of the virus throughout the country on Oct 20. I fear that we will have to impose restrictions again if people continue to violate health protocols,” he stated.
Terming the following two weeks essential, Dr Sultan stated efforts ought to be made to manage Covid-19 so that companies stay open, including that your complete world had praised Pakistan for controlling the lethal virus.
The novel coronavirus was first detected in China in December final yr which then unfold to different nations. Pakistan closed its borders and took quite a few steps to cease the unfold. The primary case of the virus was reported in Pakistan within the final week of February.
On March 13, a gathering of the Nationwide Safety Committee, comprising prime civil and navy management, was held to debate the disaster after it was declared a pandemic by the World Well being Organisation.
Prime Minister Imran Khan, who had chaired the assembly, directed the authorities to plot a complete technique to examine the unfold of the illness.
Lockdown was introduced on March 16 and quite a few industries, academic establishments, eating places and marriage halls have been closed.
The Nationwide Catastrophe Administration Authority was concerned to make sure availability of medical gear and health-related provides on the earliest.
After the development trade was opened on Aug 7, the Nationwide Coordination Committee on Covid-19 lifted restrictions on tourism on Aug eight and on eating places and transport sector from Aug 10. It additionally gave a timetable for opening different sectors, together with academic establishments and marriage halls.
After easing of restrictions, a lot of individuals thronged public spots with out following the SOPs. Because of this, vacationer locations in Gilgit-Baltistan needed to be closed.
Revealed in Daybreak, October 22nd, 2020
