AS infections are surging in some countries of the world and the World Health Organization (WHO) is predicting there never be a silver bullet for Covid-19, the situation in Pakistan is steadily improving with clear signs of normalcy limping back after a turbulent phase that hit almost everyone. The country reported the lowest number of new cases as well as deaths on Monday and restrictions imposed are being wrapped up to allow routine life to resume.
As per data of National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) released on Monday, 330 people were tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours as against the peak of 6,825 cases per day in mid-June 2020 with medical experts describing the turnaround as real and positive. It was in this backdrop that the Punjab Government has ended the smart lockdown in all main cities before time. The lockdown, originally, was to end on August 5 but shops and markets were allowed to open on night between August 2 and 3. In a related development, the Sindh government has also decided that all government hospitals in the province would start routine operations including outdoor patient departments in view of improved situation. The development comes as major hospitals including those in Karachi are freeing up beds in the previously overcrowded Coronavirus wards and occupancy of ventilators has also halved. The actual situation would, however, become clear when impact of gatherings on the occasion of Eid-ul-Azha starts appearing in a few days and that would be the proper time to make a realistic assessment of the overall picture. In case, gains, as are being reported these days and are also being acknowledged by the international community, are sustained then the authorities, as promised, should make quick decisions about resumption of normal activities by remaining sectors and businesses. Owners of private schools and marriage halls are already protesting against continued closure of their businesses incurring huge losses to them. It is rightly being pointed out that like construction industry a number of other businesses are also linked to the event industry and opening of marriage halls would have salutary impact on the overall economic activities in the country.
