PMA urges citizens to stay vigilant

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged people to stay vigilant against coronavirus even as the situation gradually improved in the country, pointing out that many countries had been hit even harder during the pandemic's second wave.

In a statement, PMA experts said they were satisfied with the improving situation for Covid-19 in the country, adding that the severity and number of cases had decreased, while hospital beds and ventilators were vacant.

"These all are good indicators, [but] it does not mean that we should get complacent," the statement went on to say. "A recent survey showed that a new record was set on July 23, when 284,661 people were diagnosed with the virus in a single day around the world, which is alarming."

However, despite the encouraging numbers, the PMA expressed the fear that people's negligence on Eidul Azha could result in the rapid spread of the virus over the next two weeks.

"We should learn from our past experiences. People neglected the standard operating procedures (SOPs) during Eidul Fitr, which resulted in a surge in the reported cases and the death toll," the statement added. The PMA advised the government to implement SOPs strictly in order to control the virus spread, further recommending reopening educational institutes after monitoring the pandemic situation.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 28^th, 2020.