Doctors warned about exponential spread of coronavirus in Pakistan
Please listen to the sane voices before easing the restrictions
There is no
doubt that federal government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan is under immense
pressure to lift restrictions imposed to contain the spread of coronavirus in
Pakistan. The traders and business organisations are demanding to open the
shops and markets. As the government already allowed many businesses to open.
The traders in Lahore-Karachi and Islamabad have already announced to open
shops during the Ramzan. It has become a challenge for federal and provincial
governments to keep the restrictions in place.
The
government already granted the permission for congregational prayers in the
mosques. The government succumbed to the pressure exerted by the religious
right. This decision comes at a time
when number of cases and deaths are rising in the country. The opening of markets,
shopping malls and other businesses means more people will be on streets and at
the public places. This could pose a serious threat to people’s health. The number
of coronavirus infected patients has increased to 10,000. There is real danger
of exponential growth of virus in Pakistan if precautionary measures are not
taken.
That is why
the doctors and health experts are opposing the idea of opening businesses and
allowing the mass prayers in mosques. The government must listen to the sane
and expert voices before making such decisions.
Chairman of
Prime Minister's National Task Force on Science and Technology renowned scientist Prof Dr
Atta-ur-Rahman has warned about the coronavirus situation getting worse in
the country. "The government should carry out testing for
30,000-40,000 patients on a daily basis. So far we see merely 2,000-3,000 being
tested," he said, in a conversation with the media.
"The
data coming in of patients across the country is not indicative of the true
picture. The real number of patients is much higher." Reiterating the need
for testing, Dr Rahman said that the disease is "rapidly spreading like
wildfire" and had brought even nations like the United States ”to its
knees".
Speaking of
the need for stringent containment measures to defeat the spread of the virus,
he said that people who are leaving their homes without a good reason
"should be thrown into jails. “If we don't take strict action now, things
could get out of hand," he warned.
The top
doctors of the country representing different medical organisations expressed
their concerns about the decision to allow mass prayers. The eminent physicians
of the country warned that if preventive measures were not taken, the number of
COVID-19 cases could reach up to 70,000 by next month (May 15). We estimate
that as many as 7,000 critical cases would require ventilators and the country do
not have more than 3,500 ventilators, they claimed.
“We are expecting easing of the lockdown and
this can prove disastrous for Pakistan. If we don’t enforce the lockdown in
letter and spirit, the projected number of Coronavirus cases can rise up to
70,000 by May 15. As many as 7,000 people would require life support but our
country does not have the capacity to cater to even half of those patients.”
They demanded banning all types of crowds and
congregations, including those at supermarkets, shopping malls and mosques,
saying people should avoid gathering at any place at least for one and a half
to two months, so that transmission of coronavirus could be minimized as much
as possible and asked the Ulema and people to offer prayers at homes.
They also
demanded complete closure of shopping malls, supermarkets and stores and all
other places where people gather at one place, saying this is the time when we
should strictly implement the lockdown to ease the burden on the country’s
fragile healthcare system.
These are
expert and most sane voices of most respected doctors and health representatives.
The government should listen to them carefully before making any decision on
easing the restrictions. The government should take measures to save lives.
The Editor
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