THE confirmed cases of virus all over the country are rap idly increasing and there is widespread concern that the number could increase alarmingly in the backdrop of inability of the authorities concerned to track and trace all patients and their contacts. The anguish has been echoed by Chairman of Prime Minister’s National Task Force on Science and Technology Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman who said on Sunday that he foresaw the Corona Virus situation getting worse in the country, urging the government to ramp-up testing of suspected patients. He pointed out that so far merely two to three thousand suspects are being tested daily whereas there was need to increase testing to fifty thousand a day. Leader of the Opposition Mian Shahbaz Sharif has also demanded expansion of scope of testing to accelerate the process of identification of confirmed cases along with measures to check the spread of the virus. Tracking and tracing, testing, quarantine, provision of adequate number of personal protective equipment (for doctors) and availability of a good number of ventilators are key elements in the fight against Covid-19. The Federal and Provincial Governments are trying their level best to protect people but the desired results are not forthcoming mainly because of lack of coordination, which is also leading to wastage of precious and scant resources. Unfortunately, there is, so far, no consensus on whether we should go for total lockdown or not and all the provincial governments have their own strategies on the question with the Centre opposing the proposition. This is despite the fact that medical experts and other saner voices are even demanding imposition of curfew to impose strict lockdown in view of surging cases of local virus transmission as has been highlighted by a report from Lahore that one man transmitted virus to 27 others. Break-down of the affected person given by Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on Health Dr Zafar Mirza at a news briefing on Sunday also confirmed an increase in local transmission.According to him, there were a total of 1,527 confirmed patients out of which 857 (58%) had travel history of Iran, 191 (13%) had travel history of other countries, while 420 (29%) contracted the COVID19 through local sources. Though the SpecialAssistant also maintained that the existing ratio of Corona cases in Pakistan was very low which was against the speculation but the decision of the Punjab government to restrict Corona update in media is being interpreted by some circles as an attempt to suppress portrayal of true picture. Instead of imposing restrictions on information, appropriate steps should be taken at appropriate time to save lives and minimize sufferings of the people. Stringent measures at the beginning would have produced better results without jeopardizing economy or causing serious disruption to the life of the citizens. Sindh Government has taken another step in its efforts to contain the virus by closing border with Punjab and the restriction will surely have salutary effect on the overall situation in both the provinces. We should follow the United Arab Emirates, which is pursuing a national sterilization programme at night and the plan is implemented by imposing strict curfew the violation of which attracts a fine of Dh. 3000. In Pakistan, Capital Development Authority (CDA)/Islamabad Administration have also started city sterilization programme while Bahria Town has also vowed to disinfect most affected locality and cooperate in the drive for sterilization of the entire capital. There is need to replicate the exercise at least in all major cities and towns as well as areas most affected by the virus. As there are limits to procurement of necessary material and equipment needed in the fight against virus from abroad, plans should be devised on a war footing for local production. Lack of coordination is also visible in the opening of their own relief funds by federal and provincial governments as well as some other entities to receive donations from philanthropists. Latest is the example of Sindh which launched an online portal and an application named Sindh Relief Initiative Application, through which welfare organisations can register themselves and work with official authorities to provide food and necessary items to daily wage workers who are unable to find work during the lockdown. All this shows both the Federal and Provincial Governments are active, well-to-do people are also supplementing their efforts and Pakistan Army was at the back of the civil administration but what we need is a national strategy to ensure judicious utilization of the available resources.
