Covid-19: Umar hints at health sector's inability to deal with rising cases

Minister for Planning Development and Head of National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), Asad Umar on Sunday said that the coronavirus cases are expected to touch the limit of health system in the next few weeks despite low spread of virus.
Speaking at a news conference, he stated that corona testing capacity has been increased 2.25 times during the last couple of days and now number of test being done by the provinces, AJK, and Gilgit Baltistan are considerably higher.
Umar said that the lockdown has affected the poor and middle class but it has helped reduce the spread of virus in the country. The government is trying to provide assistance to 12 million poorest families who have been affected badly by the lockdown and corona.
The minister said that last meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) attended by the provinces, AJK and GB decided to extend the lockdown till April 14.
He said that most of the people are following the precautionary measures although some people were not following it strictly.
Asad Umar said that any decision about the lockdown fate would be taken after April 14 as no one knows what would be situation after April 14.
The minister said that work on technology is being expedited and efforts are afoot to provide personal protective equipments to the doctors, nurse and paramedic who are on the frontline in fight against virus. The government priority is to protect the ICU and emergency staff in the hospitals. Private and public hospital would be provided ventilators, and protective kits, added the Minister.