Lockdown to remain eased amid fears

Economic considerations override public disregard for distancing

LAHORE: Contrary to rumours about reimposition of lockdown restrictions gradually relaxed during the current month, a provincial health official has clarified that irrespective of the department’s concerns, the government is not reimposing strict restrictions as yet.

During the three days of Eidul Fitr, rumours of provincial government enforcing strict lockdown from May 27 took rounds. The rumours pivoted around the increasing violations of the lockdown and the irresponsible behaviour of the people who were disregarding the advice to maintain physical distance.

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The health department official said on the condition of anonymity that reimposing lockdown restrictions, if the situation spins out of control, will always remain under consideration, but the government has no plans to do so immediately.

Sources said the prime minister wanted the economy of the country, which was in a shambles at the moment, back on its feet. They said the lockdown would only increase the losses to economy, which the government does not want.

The official said the department entrusted with the task to combat Covid-19 too feared an exponential increase in cases of the disease owing to relaxations of the lockdown. However, the government directions for now are very clear.



He, however, said that with the existing coronavirus testing regime, the authorities were unlikely to get an accurate picture of the scenario.

According to the statistics provided by Directorate General of Health Services, of 3,229 people tested on May 25, 577 were tested positive and of 3,585 tested on May 24, 520 were positive. On May 21, as many as 5,931 people were tested and 1,073 were confirmed as coronavirus patients. In the month of May, on average almost 14 per cent of the tests came out positive from whatever the sample size.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 27^th, 2020.