Covid-19 cases may hit 1.2m by July-end, warns Umar
Planning minister says tally may double by end of current month if guidelines not followed
Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar says the government does not want to hurt people but it was the constitutional as well as moral responsibility of the government to prevent them from the disease. SCREEMGRAB
ISLAMABAD:
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Sunday warned that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country could double by the end of the current month and were likely to hit a staggering figure of up to 1.2 million by the end of July if citizens continued to flout the standard operating procedures and guidelines to stem the spread of the disease.
“We are halfway through June and the cases have reached around 150,000. Sadly, taking the current trajectory into account, experts have predicted that the cases might double by the end of the month," the minister, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19, said at a news conference in Islamabad.
He added that the nationwide tally of infections could reach one million to 1.2 million by the end of next month.
Umar said so far these figures were only projections that such an alarming spike in cases could be averted if the people cooperated with the government and followed the guidelines issued to curb the coronavirus spread.
“There must bring about a change in our attitude towards the virus, both on an individual and collective basis.”
The minister stressed the need for wearing face masks and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.
He pointed out that research across the globe had found that wearing masks was effective in curbing the spread of Covid-19 by almost 50%.
“The NCOC has recommended that everyone should wear face masks in public places.”
Umar noted that many people had started using masks but unfortunately there were several more who were not wearing them.
“Please wear masks if you want to protect yourself and your loved ones. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing would ensure that businesses remained open and the wheel of the economy kept turning.”
The minister reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance that enforcing "smart lockdowns" in virus hotspots was a better way to deal with the pandemic than a complete lockdown.
“The world has started to realise that imposing a complete lockdown is devastating for the economy.”
Umar said the government was containing the disease by imposing smart lockdowns in virus hotspots and also protecting jobs and livelihoods by not imposing a complete lockdown.
The minister also said the government was aiming to enhance the country’s coronavirus testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of July.
He added that the capacity currently stood at 30,000 tests per day in comparison with only 500 when viral outbreak started in the country.
Umar said the Centre would continue supporting provincial governments in their efforts against the virus. The capacity of beds for coronavirus patients will be increased by 500 in Sindh and Punjab and 400 beds with oxygen will be handed over to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
He added that over 2,000 people were on oxygen beds across the country at the moment.
"Around 2,150 oxygen beds will be provided to the provinces by the end of next month.”
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Sunday warned that the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the country could double by the end of the current month and were likely to hit a staggering figure of up to 1.2 million by the end of July if citizens continued to flout the standard operating procedures and guidelines to stem the spread of the disease.
“We are halfway through June and the cases have reached around 150,000. Sadly, taking the current trajectory into account, experts have predicted that the cases might double by the end of the month," the minister, who also heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19, said at a news conference in Islamabad.
He added that the nationwide tally of infections could reach one million to 1.2 million by the end of next month.
Umar said so far these figures were only projections that such an alarming spike in cases could be averted if the people cooperated with the government and followed the guidelines issued to curb the coronavirus spread.
“There must bring about a change in our attitude towards the virus, both on an individual and collective basis.”
The minister stressed the need for wearing face masks and practicing social distancing to prevent the spread of the virus.
He pointed out that research across the globe had found that wearing masks was effective in curbing the spread of Covid-19 by almost 50%.
“The NCOC has recommended that everyone should wear face masks in public places.”
Umar noted that many people had started using masks but unfortunately there were several more who were not wearing them.
“Please wear masks if you want to protect yourself and your loved ones. Wearing masks and practicing social distancing would ensure that businesses remained open and the wheel of the economy kept turning.”
The minister reiterated Prime Minister Imran Khan’s stance that enforcing "smart lockdowns" in virus hotspots was a better way to deal with the pandemic than a complete lockdown.
“The world has started to realise that imposing a complete lockdown is devastating for the economy.”
Umar said the government was containing the disease by imposing smart lockdowns in virus hotspots and also protecting jobs and livelihoods by not imposing a complete lockdown.
The minister also said the government was aiming to enhance the country’s coronavirus testing capacity to 100,000 a day by the end of July.
He added that the capacity currently stood at 30,000 tests per day in comparison with only 500 when viral outbreak started in the country.
Umar said the Centre would continue supporting provincial governments in their efforts against the virus. The capacity of beds for coronavirus patients will be increased by 500 in Sindh and Punjab and 400 beds with oxygen will be handed over to Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa.
He added that over 2,000 people were on oxygen beds across the country at the moment.
"Around 2,150 oxygen beds will be provided to the provinces by the end of next month.”