ISLAMABAD: (Web Desk) The second wave of the novel coronavirus has begun in Pakistan with both the death and positivity rates rising across the country, said Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.
The prime minister’s aide is addressing a press conference in Islamabad.
The premier’s aide said that a few weeks ago, 400-500 cases were being recorded daily in the country, however, now the infections have shot up to 700-750 per day.
“Coronavirus death rate has increased in the country,” he said, adding that that the positivity ratio had surged to 2.5%.
Dr Faisal said that that the nation was not observing coronavirus precautionary measures to the extent that it should.
Now, Pakistan is entering a phase where we need to tighten the coronavirus curbs, the PM’s aide said, adding that an official plan would be formulated soon.
“Our focus — tightening coronavirus curbs — will be more on the cities and areas where the positivity ratio of the virus is high,” Dr Faisal said.
The premier’s aide said that the authorities were mulling over several plans of action to curb the spread.
“We urge the local administrations to implement coronavirus SOPs,” he said and warned that the government would impose a fine on people who did not follow coronavirus SOPs in public places.
The special assistant said that the business timings might be reduced, as they were during the first lockdown that had been imposed in light of the increasing cases.
Dr Faisal said that the government was mulling over setting up a hotline so that the citizens could inform the authorities of violations of coronavirus SOPs.
“Restrictions are hard [on the people] and no government wishes to impose them,” he said, adding that if the people follow the coronavirus safety measures, Pakistan could beat this wave as well. “Further details will be disclosed after deliberations with all the provinces,” Dr Faisal added.
