-Govt extends Coronavirus restrictions by 15 days as positive cases fast approaching 12,000 mark
-Trajectory of cases during Ramadan to determine future course
-WHO warns of 200,000 Corona cases by mid-July, if strict control measures not put in place
By Ajmal Khan Yousafzai
ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Asad Umar announced that the government has decided to extend the countrywide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus by 15 days.
Addressing a news conference at the National Command and Operation Centre, he said the restrictions will now remain in place until May 9. The decision was taken after consultation with all the provincial governments, he added.
The nationwide tally of Covid-19 patients stands at 11,513 with 4,851 cases in Punjab, 3,945 in Sindh, 1,541 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 607 in Balochistan, 300 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 214 in Islamabad and 55 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.
The virus has claimed at least 240 lives while at least 2,527 coronavirus patients have recovered.
The month of Ramazan will be “decisive” in determining the trajectory of cases detected in the country, Planning Minister Asad Umar has said.
He urged people to take precautions that have been recommended by doctors and added that if the public observes social distancing over the next month, the government would most likely be able to lift some restrictions by Eidul Fitr.
Planning Minister Asad Umar has said that almost half of the money allocated for the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been distributed among deserving families.
He further said that the relief programme will also continue throughout the month of Ramazan.
Planning Minister Asad Umar announced that the government has decided to extend the countrywide lockdown imposed to curb the spread of the coronavirus by 15 days.
Addressing a news conference at the National Command and Operation Centre, he said the restrictions will now remain in place until May 9.
The decision was taken after consultation with all the provincial governments, he added.
The month of Ramazan will be “decisive” in determining the trajectory of cases detected in the country, Planning Minister Asad Umar has said.
He urged people to take precautions that have been recommended by doctors and added that if the public observes social distancing over the next month, the government would most likely be able to lift some restrictions by Eidul Fitr.
Planning Minister Asad Umar has said that almost half of the money allocated for the Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme has been distributed among deserving families.
He further said that the relief programme will also continue throughout the month of Ramazan.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said Friday that the countrywide lockdown had been extended till May 9 as Pakistan battles the coronavirus pandemic.
Speaking at news conference, the minister said that a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) meeting had been held which decided to extend the date of the lockdown.
He said that the NCOC was about to start the implementation of the trace and track system from tomorrow. “Consultations were held with chief secretaries and then health ministers at the NCOC. The prime minister has given approval for the system.”
Umar said that the apex body of the NCOC will oversee the trace and track system but the provincial governments, information technology institutions, civil and military organisations will be involved in the process as well.
“This is a complete national response formed by the government,” he said, though adding that the provincial governments will be responsible mainly for the implementation of the system.
He announced that throughout the month of Ramazan, loadshedding will not take place during Sehar and Iftar hours.
The minister said that if people practiced the prescribed safety precautions during the holy month, then it would allow business and other activities to inch towards normalcy.
“However, God forbid, if we demonstrate irresponsibility, then we may have to impose more restrictions after Eid,” he said.
He said that generally, Pakistanis had made a lot of changes to their social life during the past month ever since the lockdown was imposed. “We are trying to predict what this infection’s spread will be through consultations will data scientists and experts,” he said.
The remarks from the federal minister came a day before Pakistan observes its first fast for Ramadan 2020.WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom had warned on Thursday that if Pakistan did not take sufficient “preventive interventions” then the number of coronavirus cases in the country can surge to 200,000 by mid-July.
“Pakistan’s #COVID19 Response Plan is a joint strategy of the Government of #Pakistan, the @UN and partners. It is aligned with the @GlobalGoalsUN, Pakistan’s National Action Plan and WHO’s global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan,” DrTedros was quoted as saying.Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday had said that the country will have to move towards a “smart lockdown” as a balance had to be struck between keeping people safe and ensuring the coronavirus does not spread too much.
He had cited the example of the United States where more than 40,000 people have died yet the government is considering moving towards reopening shops and businesses. “No one knows for how long this [coronavirus situation] will last,” he had said, adding that the Prime Minister’s Coronavirus Relief Fund will be used to help people who were suffering till their businesses were shut.
“I spoke to Trump. Even he is concerned with the economy collapsing, despite their resources. Everyone agrees it is unsustainable,” he had said.
Speaking about the criticism he had faced due to his decision to refrain from ordering a complete lockdown, the prime minister had said that previous decisions were made keeping in mind the country’s elite.
He had urged critics to go to impoverished areas of the country and in katchi abadis to see for themselves the living conditions of people. “If this [coronavirus] spreads in slums, it will not stay there. It will spread to defence [and other posh areas],” he said.
