‘Unmistakable signs’ of virus surge: Umar

Minister says Covid-19 positivity rate has hit 2.37%

ISLAMABAD:

Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Thursday said there were “unmistakable signs” of resurgence in coronavirus infections, pointing out that Covid-19 positivity rate 2.37% a day earlier -- the highest in more than 50 days.

“The last time this level was seen was on August 23," the minister, who heads the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19, tweeted.

Umar further noted that there had also been a spike in coronavirus deaths.

“The average number of Covid deaths during the first four days of this week was 11 per day, the highest since the week of August 10,” he elaborated. “Unmistakable signs of the rise of corona."

 

National positivity of covid cases was 2.37% yesterday. This is the highest positivity in more than 50 days. Last time this level was seen on aug 23. First 4 days of this week covid deaths average is 11 per day..highest since week of Aug 10th. Unmistakable signs of rise of corona

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 15, 2020

 

The minister explained that Covid-19 positivity was "extremely high" in Muzaffarabad, "remained high" in Karachi and was "rising" in Lahore and Islamabad.

"Time for all of us to take Covid SOPs seriously again,” he cautioned. “Otherwise, unfortunately we may have to take restrictive actions which have negative effects on people's livelihoods."

Covid positivity is extremely high in muzaffarabad, remains high in karachi, rising in lahore & Islamabad. Time for all of us to take covid sop's seriously again. Otherwise, unfortunately we may have to take restrictive actions which have negative effects on peoples livelihoods

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) October 15, 2020

 

The minister has continuously been warning about taking Covid-19 SOPs seriously. In a tweet on October 11, the minister had said the country's Covid-19 positivity rate had increased to over 2% in the last one week.

This increase was observed after a six-week stable national average of less than 2%.

“To prevent an increase in cases in the country, we have already imposed mini-smart lockdowns in Islamabad, Karachi, and Azad Kashmir,” he said, urging citizens to cooperate with the authorities to curbing the spread of the disease by taking precautionary measures.

The minister added that administrations across the country had been issued instructions to ensure that coronavirus guidelines were followed. “However, like in the past, success is impossible without the cooperation of the people,” he added.

The coronavirus situation is becoming more alarming in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi.

 As many as 97 new cases were confirmed in the federal capital while another 35 cases in Rawalpindi a day earlier.

On the directions of the Ministry of National Health Services, the ICT administration has started imposing smart and micro lockdowns in different streets of the federal capital to curb the transmission of the virus.

Moreover, the district administration has also started taking action against violations of the SOPs issued by the government to prevent the spread of Covid-19, with inspection teams visiting wedding halls, markets and fuel stations to check the implementation.

The administration has also sealed schools, shops and restaurants which were defying SOPs. The inspection teams also issued notices to marriage halls apart from imposing fines on owners of different shops.

Earlier this month, the AJK government decided to reimpose lockdown in the region amid fears of a second coronavirus wave.

Similarly, the Sindh government has imposed micro-smart lockdowns in Karachi’s virus hotspots and sealed several restaurants and wedding halls for not following Covid-19 SOPs.