-COVID-19 cases top 205,000 with 93,000 recoveries
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases topped 200,000, making it the 12th most affected country in the world, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
So far 4,098 fatalities have been recorded from the virus. The country breached the grim milestone as the infection rate multiplied manifold over the past few weeks after the government eased lockdown restrictions last month, allowing big markets and shopping plazas to open.
The Pakistan Medical Association and other health organisations had warned the government against lifting restrictions and advised the authorities to reimpose complete lockdown in order to stem the spread of the virus.
However, “to maintain a balance between life and livelihood”, the government adopted the strategy of “smart lockdown” through which virus hotspots in 20 cities were sealed.
The World Health Organisation, on April 23, had warned Pakistan that if “effective measures” were not taken, the cases could surge to 200,000 in mid-July, however, the number was crossed 20 days earlier.
“Without effective interventions, there could be an estimated 200K+ cases by mid-July. The impacts on the economy could be devastating, doubling the number of people living in poverty,” Director-General WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom had said.
According to the latest government projections, coronavirus cases in the country may be limited to 225,000 by the end of June if people continue to take strict precautions — the number was earlier expected to reach 300,000.
Speaking to media on Friday, Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said that when the number of COVID-19 cases surged, people started following preventive measures. “There were two weeks when the big hospitals in major cities faced pressure,” he said.
He, however, cautioned everyone that if the standard operating procedures are not followed then the situation can deteriorate. Over 5,000 healthcare workers infected
According to official data, over 5,000 medical workers have contracted the virus in the country.
A total of 5,164 healthcare providers have been sickened by the virus across Pakistan, as of June 24, revealed the daily tally of the ministry of national health services, regulation and coordination, in Islamabad.
The majority of the infected medics have been reported from Pakistan’s northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, totaling 1,694.
The second-highest tally is from Sindh, 1,392, followed by Punjab, 1,099, Islamabad, 419, Balochistan, 391, Gilgit Baltistan, 95, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir, 74.
Of the 5,164 professionals, over 3,000 are doctors.
Prime Minister Imran Khan in a Twitter statement on Sunday said he is proud of his team for helping him continue to navigate the country through the coronavirus pandemic.
Sharing a news story about smart lockdowns being enforced by European Union countries to curb the spread of the highly contagious respiratory disease, he said: “My team was amongst the first to enforce smart lockdowns.”
“I am proud of it for helping me continue to navigate our country through theCovid19 crisis. InshaAllah, from now onwards if we follow SOPs we will see off the worst of this crisis.”
The country reported 4,072 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 83 more associated deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the national tally of infections to 202,954 and casualties to 4,118.
According to data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 4,072 new infections were detected after 25,013 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours. Thus far, more than 1.2 million tests have been conducted in the country while 106,213 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment and 92,624 patients have recuperated from the disease.
78,267 cases have been detected in Sindh so far, 74, 202 in Punjab, 25,380 inKhyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,261 in Balochistan, 12, 395 in Islamabad, 1,027 inAzad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,423 in Gilgit Baltistan.
The country reported 4,072 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 83 more associated deaths in the past 24 hours, taking the national tally of infections to 202,954 and casualties to 4,118.
According to data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 4,072 new infections were detected after 25,013 tests were conducted in the past 24 hours. Thus far, more than 1.2 million tests have been conducted in the country while 106,213 COVID-19 patients are undergoing treatment and 92,624 patients have recuperated from the disease.
78,267 cases have been detected in Sindh so far, 74, 202 in Punjab, 25,380 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,261 in Balochistan, 12, 395 in Islamabad, 1,027 inAzad Jammu and Kashmir and 1,423 in Gilgit Baltistan.
Of the total coronavirus-related fatalities, 1,673 occurred in Punjab, 1,243 in Sindh, 914 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 114 in Balochistan, 122 in Islamabad, 24 in Gilgit Baltistan, and 28 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The number of coronavirus infection cases across the world has risen to over ten million while the pandemic has so far claimed more than five hundred thousand lives.
Over 5.4 million patients have recovered from the disease. The United States tops with about 2.6 million infection cases and more than 128,000 deaths.
In Brazil, number of infections have risen to over 1.3 million with over 57,000 deaths. The number of coronavirus cases in Rawalpindi has reduced by nearly 50% ever since a smart lockdown was imposed in the city, according to authorities.
Over 15 areas in the city and seven Cantt neighbourhoods were sealed on June 18 after they were declared COVID-19 hot spots. When residents of these areas were tested again, the result of the lockdown was successful.
According to Additional Deputy Commissioner Zaheer Anwar Jappa, initially an average of 70 cases was reported on a daily basis but that has now decreased to 20 a day.
“The smart lockdown is a successful model to curb the virus,” he said, adding that if people keep cooperating with the administration and follow precautionary measures, the number can go down even further.
The lockdown has been imposed till June 30. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Punjab has increased to 72,000.
Islamabad’s Sectors G-9/2 and G-9/3 have been reopened. They were previously sealed as part of the government’s smart lockdown.
On Monday morning, the Karachi Company commercial area will also be reopened.These areas were sealed on June 13 after a rise in coronavirus cases was reported.
So far, Pakistan has reported 200,000 coronavirus cases and over 4,000 deaths.Over 146 inmates and jail staffers on Sunday have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Sukkur Central Jail.
According to Sukkur Central Jail authorities, a total of 1600 tests were conducted, of which 146 tested positive for COVID-19.
93 people, out of 146 positive have recovered from the disease, said authorities. Those who recovered from novel coronavirus include 85 prisoners and eight jail staffers.
27 COVID-19 positive prisoners and 26 jail staffers have been isolated and kept in quarantine, added the authorities.
Last month, over 200 inmates and nine warders had tested positive for the novel coronavirus in Karachi Central Jail.
Inspector-General of Police (prisons) Nusrat Mangan has confirmed that over 200 prisoners and nine jail officials, including DSP Jan Muhammad, were diagnosed with COVID-19 at the Karachi jail.
He maintained that the COVID-19 positive prisoners have been isolated and kept in quarantine. The police officer said that there were over 3,500 prisoners at the Karachi Central Jail and added that half of them have been screened for the virus.
Mangan said that all the prisoners and the jail staff will be tested for the virus.
Advisor to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister on Information Ajmal Wazir has said that the government is taking steps on war footing against all the confronted challenges.
Addressing a media briefing in Peshawar on Sunday, he said the capacity of public sector hospitals is being enhanced to accommodate more coronavirus patients.
Ajmal Wazir said the government is taking all possible measures to deal with the locust attack in the province.
He said Prime Minister Imran Khan is strenuously working for resolution of problems and public welfare.
