Mirza urges people to strictly follow corona SOPs

Says smart lockdown policy could succeed only if citizens followed guidelines

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said the government’s plan of smart lockdown could work only when the citizens strictly followed the standard operating procedure (SOPs) issued with regard to different aspects of the novel coronavirus pandemic.

“SOPs have been prepared for all persons keeping in mind the prevailing disease situation. The policy of smart lockdown could be successfully implemented only if the citizens fully cooperated with the government and abide by these SOPs,” Dr Mirza said on Saturday.

He was addressing media along with Special Assistant to the PM on National Security Division Moeed Yusuf. The SAPM said people would be informed through media about their responsibilities and the citizens can also visit official websites to know about these SOPs.

He said there were 20-point SOPs regarding group prayers at mosques during the holy month of Ramazan. These SOPs were announced by the president ahead of Ramazan.

“There are SOPs for corona positive patients with regard to their quarantine and travelling. The government has also issued SOPs on burial of the deceased. There are SOPs on categorization of hospitals regarding coronavirus.”

He said the government has also issued SOPs on social distancing and for those eligible for coronavirus testing. There are SOPs on treatment and clinical management of coronavirus patients.

Dr Mirza said the government has issues SOPs for use of personal protection equipment (PPE) kits by healthcare workers at federal and provincial levels.

He said initially those businesses are allowed to work whose operation involves limited risk of spread of the disease but on condition to follow the specified SOPs.

Mirza also asked citizens to follow SOPs issued by the government regarding shopping, for use of masks and for business activities to protect themselves from the disease. “SOPs have also been issued regarding for construction industry.”

Sharing breakup of coronavirus cases, Dr Mirza said 194,000 tests have been conducted in Pakistan so far while the number of infections is gradually increasing. He said so far 18,114 confirmed cases have been reported with 1,297 cases during the last 24 hours.

“In the last 24 hours, 622 coronavirus cases were reported in Sindh, 393 cases in Punjab and 172 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. During the last 24 hours, as many as 9,164 tests were conducted. 4,715 patients have recovered completely,” he added.

WITH ADDITIONAL INPUT FROM APP