REGARDLESS of mounting number of Corona Virus infections and deaths as well as recommendation of the World Health Organisation (WHO) to impose two-week lockdown in the provinces, PTI government is still sticking to its policy against complete lockdown.
During his visit to Lahore on Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan once again ruled out sweeping lockdown saying a policy of smart lockdowns will be implemented instead whereby strict adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will be ensured to curb the spread of pandemic. One fully understands compassion and concerns of Prime Minister Imran Khan for poor segments of the society as their livelihoods have been badly affected or lost completely. It is also understandable that a country like Pakistan cannot afford a lockdown for a prolonged period of time yet it is also responsibility of the state to ensure protection of lives of the people. While new infections of around six thousand and deaths of about one hundred people are being reported daily, time warrants that federal government takes a holistic review of its policy and give due importance to recommendations of the provinces. The support package announced by government for the healthcare staff is an appreciable step to recognise their services and further encourage them but currently they are overburdened and also need a breathing space to perform their duties to best of their capabilities. The soaring cases are also pushing hospitals in major cities to the brink of their allocated capacity. The fact of matter is that actual number of infections are far higher as Pakistan is currently carrying out twenty five thousand tests daily which is half the number of daily tests recommended by the WHO.
The situation has become alarming and we will fervently appeal the Prime Minister to enforce a complete and strict lockdown for a period of two weeks to reverse upward trajectory of the virus. This, on the one hand, will help reduce burden on our health facilities and on the other hand provide sufficient time to federal and provincial governments to further enhance capacity of hospitals. This is the bitter pill that we need to swallow at least one more time before it is too late to avert the nightmare painted by Imperial College London’s algorithm which says that if lockdown was not imposed then 2.229 million deaths will occur in Pakistan by January next year. It further states that enforcing another strict lockdown could considerably reduce the death toll. Responsibility rests with government as which option it adopts. People also need to act with maturity and responsibly and take the threat seriously. While punitive action has started against SOP violators, a mass awareness campaign is also need of the hour to create urgency amongst the people to strictly adhere to precautionary measures. It is only through sense of responsibility and collective efforts that we can rid the country of this virus and restore normalcy in our lives.
