South Asia now a latest pandemic hot spot, cases rising at fastest rate

Pakistan witnessed a 27 per cent rise in coronavirus patients, while in Bangladesh cases spiked by 19%

After coronavirus cases started to diminish gradually in the US and Europe, South Asia coronavirus cases have increased at the fastest rate globally in the past week, the region has now become one of the latest pandemic hot spots.

A great rise in the number of cases in the South Asian countries was recorded in last few weeks. Pakistan witness a 27 per cent rise in coronavirus patients, in Bangladesh, cases spiked by 19 per cent whereas a 17 per cent rise was recorded in India, according to a report published in Bloomberg.

Infections have risen by 27% in Pakistan, while Bangladesh cases spiked by 19% and 17% in India, according to data of the 20 most-affected nations compiled by Bloomberg.

Pakistan and Bangladesh also had their single biggest daily spike in fatalities.

On the other hand, More than 136,000 cases were reported worldwide on Sunday, the most in a single day so far, with nearly 75% from 10 countries in the Americas and South Asia, according to WHO Director General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.

The number of cases in South Asia started to rise after the countries in the region started to ease their lockdown to tackle the economy at the same time.

According to Prime Minister Imran Khan's recent statement during his address to the nation on June 8, Pakistan had earlier expected a peak in the month of June however, now the peak is expected late July or August

“The world has eased lockdowns since even developed countries have decided they can’t survive with a prolonged lockdown,” said PM Imran in a televised briefing on the pandemic, noting the restrictions had a “devastating impact on unemployment and poverty in poor countries.”

Pakistan crossed 108,000 cases and become the second-largest most infected nation in Asia with about 2,000 deaths. In Bangladesh, the tally surged to 71,675 including 975 deaths, while India has 267,046 cases and 7,473 deaths.

Overburdened Medical facilities

“Lockdowns are being eased in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh without any sign that coronavirus infections are being brought under control,” Mark Williams, chief Asia economist and Shilan Shah, senior economist at Capital Economics wrote in a report Tuesday. “For a start, there is no telling how long containing the virus might take or indeed if it is even possible in South Asia.”

Pakistan has seen its health care system stretched, with patients put on waiting lists as the largest hospitals run out of space.

South Asia’s second-largest economy opened its snow-topped peaks in the northern areas for tourism last week after easing restrictions on most retail shops including malls. Some shopping areas were shut down in commercial capital Karachi as social distancing was not being followed.

Gilead Sciences Inc. has licensed its potential Covid-19 treatment, remdesivir, to five generic drug manufacturers in India and Pakistan to speed supply chain development and help meet anticipated demand while Bangladesh’s Beximco Pharmaceuticals Ltd became the world’s first company to start selling the generic version.