Experts to frame new Covid combat model
Meeting chaired by CM decides to seek army’s help
Shahi Qila (Royal Fort) in Lahore. PHOTO: AFP
LAHORE:
As space is running out for more coronavirus patients in public and private hospitals in the provincial capital, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday constituted a panel of experts to frame a separate model for the metropolis after evaluating the latest situation of virus spread.
Recommendations of the experts would be presented to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) for final approval.
A meeting presided over by the chief minister also decided to seek help from the army as the participants agreed to further expedite concerted efforts through effective coordination between civil and military institutions.
The meeting was attended by the Corps Commander Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan, GOC Maj-Gen Muhammad Aneequr Rehman Malik, Punjab Rangers Director General Maj-Gen Muhammad Aamir Majeed, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, the chief secretary, IG police, additional chief secretary (home), Lahore division commissioner and other senior officials of civil and military institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan assured the Punjab government of assistance for overcoming the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as it was a national challenge.
The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to make separate policies for Lahore and other cities and warned that no delay should occur in this regard.
More steps will be taken in light of experts’ recommendations, he added.
Buzdar asserted that though the situation was difficult, the government’s commitment and passion were stronger than it and the challenge would be overcome through public support and collaboration.
He said steps would be continued for public safety by analysing ground realities. The people will have to show a responsible attitude in this situation while the government is dealing with the coronavirus challenge, he underscored.
The meeting participants expressed their concerns over an increase in the number of coronavirus patients in Punjab, especially Lahore. It decided to strengthen precautionary measures to arrest community transmission by utilising all resources. It reviewed ongoing safety measures to overcome the spread of coronavirus in the province and deliberated on patients’ case management and an increase in the number of beds in hospitals.
It was also decided to ensure strict compliance of masks use and that any violation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in markets and commercial areas will not be tolerated. It decided to make advance planning for likely future situation of coronavirus. The meeting also decided that educational institutions will not be opened in the prevailing circumstances.
The government of Pakistan’s official Covid-19 mobile application shows that space allocated for coronavirus patients in all public and private hospitals has run out owing to the massive influx of new patients. Geographical data given under the Pak Neghayban tab of the mobile application shows that except three private medical facilities, including Ittefaq Hospital, the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital and National Hospital and Medical Centre, beds in most medical facilities have already been filled with coronavirus patients.
It shows that most hospitals and medical centres have no or a limited number of ventilators.
Meanwhile, a relative of a coronavirus patient highlighted that he had been running the entire night from one private hospital to another to arrange a bed for his brother struggling with coronavirus.
“All private hospitals on Ferozepur Road and Jail Road refused to admit my brother and eventually we had to land in Mayo Hospital,” he said. He indicated the situation was getting worse as most medical facilities have already been filled and the country had not seen the peak of the confirmed coronavirus patients.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2020.
As space is running out for more coronavirus patients in public and private hospitals in the provincial capital, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar on Thursday constituted a panel of experts to frame a separate model for the metropolis after evaluating the latest situation of virus spread.
Recommendations of the experts would be presented to the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) for final approval.
A meeting presided over by the chief minister also decided to seek help from the army as the participants agreed to further expedite concerted efforts through effective coordination between civil and military institutions.
The meeting was attended by the Corps Commander Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan, GOC Maj-Gen Muhammad Aneequr Rehman Malik, Punjab Rangers Director General Maj-Gen Muhammad Aamir Majeed, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid, the chief secretary, IG police, additional chief secretary (home), Lahore division commissioner and other senior officials of civil and military institutions.
Speaking on the occasion, Lt-Gen Majid Ehsan assured the Punjab government of assistance for overcoming the spread of the coronavirus pandemic as it was a national challenge.
The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to make separate policies for Lahore and other cities and warned that no delay should occur in this regard.
More steps will be taken in light of experts’ recommendations, he added.
Buzdar asserted that though the situation was difficult, the government’s commitment and passion were stronger than it and the challenge would be overcome through public support and collaboration.
He said steps would be continued for public safety by analysing ground realities. The people will have to show a responsible attitude in this situation while the government is dealing with the coronavirus challenge, he underscored.
The meeting participants expressed their concerns over an increase in the number of coronavirus patients in Punjab, especially Lahore. It decided to strengthen precautionary measures to arrest community transmission by utilising all resources. It reviewed ongoing safety measures to overcome the spread of coronavirus in the province and deliberated on patients’ case management and an increase in the number of beds in hospitals.
It was also decided to ensure strict compliance of masks use and that any violation of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) in markets and commercial areas will not be tolerated. It decided to make advance planning for likely future situation of coronavirus. The meeting also decided that educational institutions will not be opened in the prevailing circumstances.
The government of Pakistan’s official Covid-19 mobile application shows that space allocated for coronavirus patients in all public and private hospitals has run out owing to the massive influx of new patients. Geographical data given under the Pak Neghayban tab of the mobile application shows that except three private medical facilities, including Ittefaq Hospital, the University of Lahore Teaching Hospital and National Hospital and Medical Centre, beds in most medical facilities have already been filled with coronavirus patients.
It shows that most hospitals and medical centres have no or a limited number of ventilators.
Meanwhile, a relative of a coronavirus patient highlighted that he had been running the entire night from one private hospital to another to arrange a bed for his brother struggling with coronavirus.
“All private hospitals on Ferozepur Road and Jail Road refused to admit my brother and eventually we had to land in Mayo Hospital,” he said. He indicated the situation was getting worse as most medical facilities have already been filled and the country had not seen the peak of the confirmed coronavirus patients.
Published in The Express Tribune, June 12th, 2020.