ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar on Friday said that due to the appropriate steps taken, the nationwide cases of Covid-19 could reach to 225,000 by the end of this month, less than earlier predicted. The minister warned the people to observe precautionary measures, or else the situation could deteriorate.
Speaking at a news conference along with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Shibli Faraz, the Minister for Planning and Development said that the government had earlier predicted that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country would jump up to 300,000 by the end June.
In the past 24 hours, with the total 195,745 nationwide confirmed cases so far, the country witnessed reduction in deaths and new cases, as there were 59 deaths and 2,775 confirmed cases reported on Friday, compared to 123 deaths and 3,591 confirmed Covid-19 nationwide cases the day before.
"The reduction in the estimated figures proves that if we all do the right things and everyone performs their duty on an individual level, while the government does its job as collective responsibility, a significant success in containing the virus can be achieved," he added.
Umar said that observance of precautionary measures was the only way to contain further spread of the coronavirus. "Not everyone, but most people realised their responsibility...as a result we are now projecting that the cases could be around 225,000 or less instead of 300,000, which we had initially feared," he said, adding that the government had to take some administrative measures where the SOPs were not being followed. He said that "smart lockdown" was being carried out in the areas, where the spread of Covid-19 was increasing, adding that when the number of cases surged, people started following preventive measures, while they needed to continue following the government's instructions.
He pointed out that on May 30, 2020, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued guidelines for the public, and wearing masks in public places in the crowds was made mandatory for the people.
On June 4, he said that the NCOC issued instructions to all the provinces to speed up implementation on the administrative actions to ensure that the SOPs were followed in letter and spirit.
On June 14, he said the hotspots of the confirmed coronavirus cases were identified in 20 big cities for the smart lockdowns in the respective areas, adding that all the provinces acted upon the instructions.
"Due to these steps, we have been able to contain further spread of the virus in these areas, but it does not mean that the danger is over, it reminds us to continue observing the precautionary measures responsibly," he added.
He said doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were serving the general public in difficult times, and it was the responsibility of all the people to strictly follow the precautionary measures regarding coronavirus.
"It is our responsibility to help the front line workers by playing our part. It is not a very difficult thing to do, but we just need to have a sense of responsibility. If we do this, our health system would not be paralysed and the outbreak can be contained," he added. He pointed out that in the past two weeks some big hospitals were facing pressure due to the rise in the confirmed cases, adding that the federal government had decided to add more than 1,000 beds available with oxygen at the country's hospitals by the end of June.
He said that by the end of July, around 2,000 more beds available with oxygen would be added and work on this was speedily underway.
The minister said that adherence to the SOPs would lead to smooth functioning of the country's economy and business. He said wearing masks, frequently washing hands and observing social distancing was of vital importance to stay safe from coronavirus.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020