NCOC warns Covid restrictions may return

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19 on Wednesday warned that coronavirus restrictions could be imposed again – including closure of services -- if the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were issued by the government continued to be flouted.

The warning from the body overseeing the country’s response to the pandemic came amid a sudden spike in infections in recent days.

Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who heads the NCOC, chaired a meeting of the body attended by all the provincial chief secretaries among other officials.

“The NCOC is closely monitoring the prevailing Covid situation and if there is no improvement in the SOPs compliance, the NCOC will have no choice but again revert to strict measures leading to re-closure of services in various sectors,” read a statement issued after the meeting.

“Coronavirus cases and deaths are on the rise across the country. All chief secretaries have been directed to strictly implement the SOPs. Violations of the SOPs will be dealt with severely,” it added.

It was decided that special attention would be paid to high-risk sectors including transport, markets, wedding halls, restaurants and public gatherings. The authorities will ensure that masks are used and social distancing is maintained.

The forum noted that there was a clear resurgence of the disease whereas the number of deaths was also increasing.

According to an NCOC daily update, 19 patients died and 660 new infections were reported in the last 24 hours.

The total number of cases across the country has reached 324,744 while the number of active cases is 9,378. The nationwide death toll from the deadly contagion stood at 6,692 on Wednesday morning.

Separately, Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said coronavirus cases were on the rise in the country because of the SOPs were not being complied with.

He stressed the need for ensuring the implementation of precautionary measures.

Addressing an event organised by the Centre for Research and Security Studies on the role of the government in preventing coronavirus, Dr Sultan said the federal government had taken immediate and timely steps to deal with the pandemic.

“The NCOC took very important and difficult decisions,” he said, adding that smart lockdowns were imposed and educational institutions, transport, tourist destinations and a number of other services were closed to prevent the spread of the virus.

At the same time, he said, the government procured medical and safety equipment from abroad on an emergency basis. The daily coronavirus test capacity was also increased along with the local production of masks and sanitisers on a large scale.

“Now ventilators are also being produced locally,” he said. “The government provided financial assistance to the people affected by the lockdown. Pakistan effectively controlled coronavirus, which is why Pakistan's fight against the disease is appreciated internationally.”

Dr Sultan said coronavirus cases were increasing these days and the next two weeks were very important. “If we are not careful, this virus will harm our economy.”

Separately, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that coronavirus cases were on the rise in the country because of the non-implementation of the SOPs, and stressed that “we have to ensure implementation of precautionary measures”.

Addressing an event organised by the Centre for Research and Security Studies on the role of the government in preventing coronavirus, Dr Sultan said that the federal government had taken immediate and timely steps to deal with Covid pandemic.

“The NCOC took very important and difficult decisions,” he said, adding that smart lockdowns were imposed, educational institutions, transport, tourist destinations and a number of other services were shut down to prevent the spread of the virus.

At the same time, he said, the government procured medical and safety equipment from abroad on an emergency basis. The daily coronavirus test capacity was also increased along with the local production of masks and sanitisers on a large scale.

“Now ventilators are also being produced locally,” he said. “The government provided financial assistance to the people affected by the lockdown. Pakistan effectively controlled coronavirus, which is why Pakistan's fight against the disease is appreciated internationally.”

Dr Sultan said that the coronavirus cases are increasing these days, therefore, we need to ensure that precautions and SOPs are implemented,” he said. “The next one or two weeks are very important for us. If we are not careful, this virus will harm our economy.”

Senate panel meeting

Dr Sultan expressed similar views, while giving a briefing to a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on National Health, chaired by Dr Sikandar Mandhro. He stressed that at present, the situation was not alarming, but the spread of coronavirus had to be stopped.

“The situation was better until three weeks ago. There have been 19 deaths in the last 24 hours, which is alarming, he said. Earlier 450 cases were being reported per day but now there are over 650 cases. The ratio of case increase was 2%, now it is 2.47%,” he added.

“The situation is not alarming, but the spread of coronavirus has to be stopped,” he said, “We as a nation has decided that we have won the war, it is not like that, we still have to show responsibility,” he added, referring to some incidents of flouting of the SOPs.

“SOPs are being ignored. Wherever, there are wedding halls, the SOPs are not being implemented. Transports, markets are crowded,” the minister told the committee. He also said that the education ministry had worked hard on educational institutions and took effective measures.

Responding to various issues and concerns raised by the members of the committee, the SAPM said that due to the concerns of the global fund programmes, the posts in the vertical programmes had been changed. “There is $300 million in grants, it’s a serious matter,” he added.

WITH INPUT FROM APP