Third Covid-19 wave has potential to be worse than first, warns Dr Faisal

No time for complacency or visiting crowded places of any kind, says PM’s aide on health

Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Sunday said that the current wave of Covid-19 in Pakistan has the potential to be worse than the first one which struck the country in the summer of 2020.

Pakistan's Covid-19 cases reached a nine-month high the past week with over 4,500 cases being reported consecutively.

About two weeks ago, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, in an interview with a private TV channel, had confirmed that the third wave of Covid-19 had started in Pakistan. He had attributed the rising number of cases to the virus' UK strain.

"Covid-19’s current wave has potential to be worse than the first one in the summer of 2020. No time for complacency or visiting crowded places of any kind. Wear masks and educate those around you," Sultan wrote on his official Twitter handle.

Covid-19 current wave with potential to be worse than the first one in the summer of 2020. NO time for complacency or visiting crowded places of any kind. Wear masks and educate those around you.

— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) March 28, 2021

 

"If your vaccination process has been completed you can get your Covid Immunisation Certificate from https://nims.nadra.gov.pk or from NADRA Mega Centres," he said in another tweet.

He asked the masses to ensure that the vaccination staff enters details in NIMS when getting vaccine.

"Check your vaccination status by sending CNIC to 1166," he further said.

If your vaccination process has been completed you can get your COVID Immunization Certificate https://t.co/WKW6ezlYPb or frm NADRA Mega Centres.
Please ensure vaccination staff enters details in #NIMS when getting vaccine. Check your vaccination status by sending CNIC to 1166 pic.twitter.com/kZfhljn0or

— Faisal Sultan (@fslsltn) March 28, 2021

 

Earlier today, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), following a meeting held on Sunday, announced that all kinds of gatherings — indoor as well as outdoor — have been banned with immediate effect.

Read more: PM Imran has made steady clinical recovery: Dr Faisal

This includes all social, cultural, political, sports and other events, the guidelines further stated.

The country's nerve centre dealing with the pandemic said in a statement, "Under the guidelines of the recent session, NCOC will provide updated hotspot maps to provinces for enforcement of expanded lockdowns with effect from 29th March 21."

Moreover, there will be a complete ban on weddings, both indoor and outdoor, from April 5 onwards. However, provinces will be at liberty to implement restrictions in early time frame as per the situation on ground.

As per the data updated by the NCOC today, Pakistan's tally for confirmed cases has reached 654,591, with at least 4,767 cases being reported only a day ago.

Moreover, the country's death toll now stands at 14,215 after it recorded 57 deaths in the last 24 hours.

The country still has 3,043 patients in critical condition. As per the Covid portal, a total of 595,929 patients have recovered from the virus in Pakistan so far.