Return of Covid curbs

From 5,540 on September 10, the number of active Covid-19 cases in the country has more than doubled, reaching 11,695, as of October 29. The cases started rebuilding around the time a major restriction, on the functioning of schools, was lifted — followed by the reopening of marriage halls. It looks as if this served as an all-clear signal to the people, and soon it was business as usual nearly all over the country. Use of face masks by the public became a rarity. Shopping centres and other market places were only following the prescribed SOPs as a formality. Social, political and religious gatherings resumed with scant regard to physical distancing protocols. Buses started plying at full seating capacity. School vans too were neglecting social distancing. Even in major private hospitals, an atmosphere was neglect was quite visible.

As a result of this near-normal activity, there has been a spike in the coronavirus cases of late, with 600 to 700 daily new infections over the last two weeks. This takes the overall tally of infections to 331,108 and of deaths to 6,775 as of October 29. This resurge has rightly evoked the concerns of the NCOC which has reimposed certain Covid-19 restrictions in 11 cities of the country — including Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit-Baltistan, Muzzafarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar and Quetta — where more than 2% tests came out positive.

These restrictions, called non-pharmaceutical intervention, or NPIs, include 1) compulsory use of face mask in confined spaces like markets, public transport, bus and train stations, as well as government and private offices; and 2) closure of commercial activities by 10pm and of parks and other public places by 6pm. Besides, Section 144 has been imposed in the federal capital for two months to order the wearing of face masks in public places. Failure to comply with the order will lead to arrest by the police. However, with Rabiul Awwal celebrations across the country in full swing, it will be pretty challenging for the authorities to get the prescribed SOPs implemented by the people.

Published in The Express Tribune, October 30^th, 2020.

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