THE widely held fear that Coronavirus could resurge seems to be turning into reality with reports about an increase in virus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s tourist spots after lifting of most of the restrictions by the federal and provincial governments. The Mansehra district administration on Sunday sealed all hotels in tourist hotspots Shogran, Naran and Kaghan after several Covid-19 cases were reported among staff working at different hotels. Similarly, Punjab Government has decided to impose ‘micro lock down’ in some streets and buildings of Rawalpindi city in view of concentration of virus cases.
It was apprehended and the Government too has been sensitizing people about possibility of the second phase of virus if people did not take the risk seriously. Lifting of restrictions and curbs has resulted into large-scale movement of people triggering fear about spread of the virus in hitherto comparatively unaffected but less developed areas/regions where health system is already fragile. The reporting of 47 cases in hotels of Mansehra area is a serious development but it is satisfying that the district administration was alert as 48 hotels, including 22 main businesses and their respective branches, have been sealed at all three tourist spots and the infected patients have been quarantined at the hotels. Reports about spread of virus are also emanating from Malakand and Gilgit-Baltistan besides Abbottabad and Galiyat which show people are not paying heed to safety precautions. If negative trend is witnessed at tourist spots, one can imagine what would be the situation if people failed to observe preventive measures during Ashura. The Government has eased restrictions to give a boost to economic and commercial activities and has committed to lift remaining curbs as well if the positive trend prevailed. However, the emerging situation could raise questions about possibility of reopening of educational institutions and marriage halls from September 15.
