People taking contagion lightly: doctors

Health experts reiterate use of facemasks

ISLAMABAD:

People are reacting to the second wave of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) very casually, said doctors at the capitals largest public health care facility warning citizens to adopt precautionary measures.

Adherence to the health guidelines issued by the government is the sole option for public to effectively curb the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic, doctors at Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) said.

Health professionals and officials, working tirelessly in emergency wards and on administrative front, have called upon the public to wholeheartedly observe government's instructions for stemming the contagion spread across the country.

Doctors have warned that public's disregard of the anti-virus standard operating procedures (SOPs) such as wearing facemask, adopting social distancing and sanitizing hands would ultimately hamper national initiative—the fight against Covid-19. "The attitude of locals towards the SOPs seems to be casual and less cautious," said Dr Mehwish, performing duty at the Emergency Ward of PIMS.

The patients, visiting the emergency wards of hospitals, did not fully care for social distancing, masks and other safety measures, she added.

"The patients with normal fever may have the option of Paracetamol to avoid unnecessary visit to the hospital, a risky point in the current scenario," Dr Mehwish said .

Another doctor at the Pims, Dr Sohail said: "Our cultural norms do not care about social distancing which is the basic precaution against the coronavirus." He said people's reluctance to adopt the preventive measures might boost the pace of virus spread. "When it comes to social contacts of a patient, tested with Covid-19, the list is mind boggling as it includes neighbours, vendors, milkman, cab driver, tailor, friend and relatives," he said.

"We are working like soldiers and our enemy, the virus, is invisible," said Mehak Ali a paramedical staffer at the Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital. The collective resolve was required to prevent the increase in second wave which was already here, she added.

Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration has stepped up its efforts to ensure compliance of the SOPs and imposed section 144 of the Criminal Procedures Code recently to fine the citizens for not wearing the mask in the capital city. Other restricts such as social distancing were already in the place.

An ICT spokesman said the police arrested 125 individuals and sealed 77 shops over non-compliance of SOPs.

 

 

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2020.