Govt asks masses to strictly follow social distancing measures to contain Covid-19

In view of growing number of coronavirus cases and deaths due to the disease, the government has appealed to the masses to strictly follow precautionary protocols and social distancing measures to contain the spread of Covid-19.

Wearing face masks at crowded places has been made mandatory to prevent the spread of coronavirus which has so far infected more than 67,000 and killed over 1,400 people across Pakistan.

Addressing a news conference in Islamabad on Saturday, Prime Minister's Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr Zafar Mirza said owing to a sharp rise in Covid-19 cases, the government was left with no option, except to declare wearing of masks a must at mosques, markets, shopping malls, public transport, and other crowded places.

#Live: SAPM on Health Dr. Zafar Mirza briefing media on latest situation of coronavirus in Pakistan https://t.co/Fplfgjg9T2

— Radio Pakistan (@RadioPakistan) May 30, 2020

He appealed to the masses to strictly follow precautionary protocols and other measures to contain the spread of Covid-19 pandemic.



Dr Mirza said that 78 people, including four health workers, died of the virus in the last 24 hours, which is the largest number in a single day in the country.

He said healthcare workers were the frontline force in the fight against Covid-19 and the government has taken a number of measures to protect them under "We Care" programme.

Regarding some messages circulating on social media based on disinformation, the PM's aide urged the opinion-makers to guide people on how to prevent the contagion instead of forwarding and promoting fake news on digital platforms.

He also urged families of Covid-19 patients to demonstrate patience, while interacting with health workers at hospitals, who are treating the affected people.

Dr Mirza said that recovery rate of coronavirus patients is 36 per cent, while locally transmission rate stands at 92 per cent and despite the rise in the cases, only around 25 per cent of our health system has been engaged so far.