Balochistan warned of 2nd Covid wave

Virus has claimed 148 lives in the province thus far

QUETTA:

The Balochistan health department on Monday warned the provincial authorities of a second coronavirus wave due to a lack of precautionary measures adopted by the masses.

“Covid-19 has taken 148 lives in Balochistan up till now. The second wave of this virus will be even more dangerous because the general public is not complying with the precautionary measures,” Coronavirus Operation Cell in-charge Dr Sarmad Saeed said while addressing a workshop arranged by the provincial health department for media personnel.

While addressing the seminar, Dr Nasir Khan Bugti said more than six hundred programmes were arranged by the health department to spread awareness among common people about the hazard and challenges that Covid-19 poses. “Information about coronavirus was publicised through newspapers, advertisements, radio and television programmes”.

He added that 2,200,000 posters and pamphlets were distributed on behalf the health department to spread awareness among the public and alert them how to combat this deadly virus.

“Measures were taken for the training of more than 61,000 health workers. The Health department also led the campaign against the pandemic with 25,000 religious scholars,” Dr Bugti said. “We also ran a campaign during Eidul Fitar and Eidul Azha to ensure that standard operating procedures were adopted.”

Dr Bugti further said that special campaigns have also been launched in educational institutions across Balochistan to guide children and keep them protected from the hazards of coronavirus. “On the special initiatives of Balochistan Chief Minister Jam Kamal, three laboratories for coronavirus tests were set up and have been working round the clock in Quetta whereas two labs are also functioning at Khuzdar and Gwadar.”

The coronavirus operation cell in-charge relayed that efforts are being taken to establish laboratories at Turbat and Loralai districts. “Lack of seriousness of the masses has raised chances of another wave of the infection as it has been witnessed that no SOPs have been followed at business centres, shopping malls and other public places across the province.”

While addressing the seminar, a journalist said, history will remember the coronavirus through reports filed by journalists across the globe, many of whom are putting their health and, for some, their lives at risk in order to cover the pandemic from the front lines.

It is pertinent to mention that the pandemic is not over and still exists. The reported cases of the virus have decreased only due to SOPs but they may increase in case of negligence.

The province has witnessed a sharp decline in coronavirus cases after the month of June this year, resulting in an ease in restrictions on movement by the government nationwide.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 13^th, 2020.