Violations of virus SOPs triggers action

The national body leading the country’s coronavirus response has asked all provinces and federating units to launch a crackdown on restaurants and wedding halls violating standard operative procedures (SOPs) framed to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the wake of a fresh surge in infections, particularly in the commercial hub of Karachi.

 “Indoor restaurants and marriage halls [are] emerging as high contributors to COVID-19 spread,” Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19, tweeted on Friday.

"We must not allow irresponsible behaviour of some to put the health of everyone at risk," he added.

During a meeting, the NCOC took notice of the increasing cases and violations of SOPs and instructed the provinces, Gilgit-Baltistan, Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Islamabad Capital Territory to ensure guidelines   and protocols for public safety were followed.

The authorities in Karachi have sealed over 100 restaurants, six wedding halls and four schools in the past three days for ignoring coronavirus -related SOPs.

According to a statement issued by the Karachi commissioner’s office, 61 restaurants and four wedding halls were sealed on September 30 alone.

Besides, scores of shops, wedding hall, schools and restaurants were warned against violating the SOPs.

On Wednesday, Sindh Health Secretary Zahid Abassi told the NCOC that the Karachi administration was monitoring the situation and appropriate administrative action would be taken to curb the spread of the virus in consultation with all stakeholders.

The Pakistan Medical Association has issued a fresh warning over the escalating Covid-19 cases in the country, saying that country might be headed for a second wave of the disease.

In a statement, the doctors’ representative body warned that countries currently experiencing a second wave were facing a more severe form of the disease.

It expressed concerns over the possibility of a similar situation in Pakistan.

The PMA noted that people had stopped following Covid-19 SOPs in Sindh and cautioned that the situation could grow worse if immediate steps were not taken to address the problem.

“It is important that special care is taken in primary and pre-primary schools," the statement read.