Government going for 'smart' lockdown: Moeed

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on National Security Dr Moeed Yusuf on Sunday said that the federal government is implementing 'smart lockdown' to impose lockdown measures only in those areas where coronavirus has posed a threat while the restrictive measures in the rest of the country are being relaxed to facilitate the public.

"Prime Minister Imran Khan has already said that imposing a blanket lockdown is not a feasible option as it would adversely affect the downtrodden segments of the society. We are going for smart lockdown, to impose lockdown measures only in those areas where required," he said.

Yusuf confirmed 159 deaths due to coronavirus in Pakistan, saying the total number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan (till the filing of this report) was 7,993 cases while the mortality rate was 1.9 per cent. In the last 24 hours, 16 confirmed deaths due to COVID-19 have been reported and 514 new cases reported, he said while also confirming that 1,867 patients recovered from the pandemic so far.

"Some 80 per cent of the total number of patients who died of coronavirus were suffering from different diseases including serious ailments which explains why this pandemic fatally targeted them," he said.

In the last 24 hours, 7,847 COVID-19 screening tests were conducted across the country whereas this capacity would be increased to 20,000 tests per day by the end of this month, he said.

Among other measures that the federal government is taking to facilitate the public include bringing 6,000 Pakistanis from foreign countries through designated flights this week. "These 6,000 mostly include labourers working in the countries like United Arab Emirates," the special assistant said.

The opening of Pak-Afghan Torkham border is also part of the government's initiative to facilitate the public at the Western border, he said. National Command and Operation Centre is reviewing the situation involving COVID-19 on a daily basis and taking steps accordingly, Yusuf said.