Experts warn of deadlier second Covid wave

Balochistan government spokesperson Liaquat Shahwani on Tuesday said experts have termed the second wave of coronavirus as more fatal and deadly.

He was addressing a press conference in Quetta to congratulate the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf candidates of securing a handsome victory in the Gilgit-Baltistan elections.

While talking about the number of Covid-19 cases across the entire province, Shahwani said the situation is becoming alarming as the number of deaths have begun to increase. “The situation is alarming and five persons have died in the first two weeks November.”

He added that Prime Minister Imran Khan also expressed grave concerns over the second wave of the pandemic in the country and placed a ban on public gatherings apart from limiting the number of guests to 300 at marriage ceremonies. “Various cases of Covid-19 are being reported all over the country. The fatality rate has also increased in the second wave.”

The provincial government spokesperson also emphasised that upcoming political and apolitical gatherings in the country should be called off. “The ruling parties Pakistan Tehreek e Insaaf and Balochistan Awami Party also cancelled their grand public gatherings in Turbat last week even though preparations for a grand public gathering had been finalised.

Responding to question pertaining to the chances of another lockdown in the province, Shahwani said closures of schools and markets is under consideration. “Issue related to the closure of schools and markets will be decided in the next ECC meeting but the government of Balochistan wishes not to close education institutions.”

Further on, Shahwani blamed the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) rallies all over the country as the reason of an increase in coronavirus cases and criticised their corrupt leadership for choosing politics over human lives and health.

“The Government of Balochistan had warned the PDM leadership before the Quetta rally that the virus might spread more after their public gathering but they did not pay heed to it,” he said. “Before October 25, approximately six to eight cases were reported daily but the number of cases increased to 46, two weeks after the PDM rally in Quetta.”

The spokesperson added that the recovery ratio in Balochistan was 99 per cent but it shrank to 90 per cent due to political gatherings in the province.

He expressed hope that the Covid-19 vaccine will reach Pakistan soon. “But people are requested to follow the SOPs till we receive the vaccine.”

Published in The Express Tribune, November 18^th, 2020.