The Sindh government has been mulling over strict measures including imposing a lockdown as Covid positivity ratio has reached 30 percent in the business hub of the country, according to sources.
The sources privy to the details, the positivity ratio has reached 30 percent in the metropolis forcing the provincial authorities to mull over strict measures in order to avoid a catastrophe.
Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah has also convened the COVID task force meeting on Friday in order to mull over the curbs on movement and the final decision to impose a lockdown would be taken after consultation with traders and other stakeholders in Karachi.
The health experts and the provincial health department have recommended imposing a 15-day lockdown in the city.
The provincial government has also approached National Command and Operation Centre NCOC for the announcement of strict measures in light of recommendations of the health experts.
“Measures should be announced that could lead to public adhering to COVID SOPs,” the government said besides also seeking the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) help in limiting transportation facilities and extending summer vacations.
Moreover, Secretary General of the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Dr. QaiserSajjad said that they have suggested a complete lockdown in Karachi for 15 days to avoid an unexpected spike in COVID cases.
“There is only one solution to this problem and it is to impose a complete lockdown for 15 days,” he said adding that pressure is mounting on hospitals and it could lead to a dangerous situation.He urged the masses to adopt SOPs and get themselves vaccinated.
The Sindh government on Tuesday moved to restrict public movement in Karachi in the night-time in order to contain the rapid spread of coronavirus cases in the metropolis as the fourth wave of the pandemic hit the province very hard.
The national command and operation centre (NCOC) – the nerve centre of the federal government’s unified effort to contain the Covid-19 pandemic – endorsed the steps being taken by the Sindh to tackle the infectious disease, noting that the positivity ratio in the city had risen to 26.32%.There has been an upsurge in fresh Covid cases, particularly in Sindh after EidulAzha holidays.
As a result, the Sindh government announced several restrictions from Monday, including closure of businesses by 6pm.
On Tuesday Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah directed the inspector general of the Sindh police and the commissioner Karachi to take measures to ensure that no one stayed out unnecessarily after 6pm. He said that several tuition centres and private gyms were still open, which must be closed.
A spokesperson for the chief minister said that Shah had formed a committee, comprising Local Government Minister Nasir Shah, Industries Minister IkramDharejo, Transport Minister AwaisQadir Shah and Adviser on Law MurtazaWahab.
The committee has been tasked with meeting all the stakeholders, including politicians, traders and shopkeepers and sensitise them about the alarming situation.
He urged the people to stay at home and avoid going out without any valid reason. “There should be no politics on the Covid situation.”
Shah chaired a meeting of the provincial task force and reviewed the overall Covid situation. He termed the pandemic situation “alarming”.
The meeting was informed said that the provincial positivity ratio had reached 12.7%, the highest ratio during the fourth wave of the disease.
