COVID-19 cases in Pakistan inching closer to 100,000-mark

Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan has ruled out return to a strict shutdown to stem spre of coronavirus, saying “elitist” idea would collapse ecomy and increase poverty even as COVID-19 cases in country on Sunday inched closure to 100,000-mark while death toll rose to over 2,000.

A record 4,960 fresh coronavirus cases were reported in last 24 hours, taking nationwide tally to 98,943, according to Ministry of National Health Services.

With 67 more fatalities due to COVID-19, death toll jumped to 2,002 in country.

Health Ministry said that on positive side, at least 33,465 patients have fully recovered so far.

So far 37,090 cases have been reported in Punjab, 36,364 in Sindh, 13,001 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 6,221 in Balochistan, 4,979 in Islamab, 927 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 361 in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.

Amid spike in coronavirus cases, Prime Minister Khan on Saturday called for creating awareness among masses regarding severity of coronavirus pandemic and need for strict observance of standard operating procedures (SOPs), Express Tribune reported.

Khan again ruled out return to a strict lockdown to stem spre of coronavirus, stressing that “elitist” idea would cause ecomy to collapse and increase poverty. Inste, he insisted on a “smart lockdown” with strict herence to SOPs.

“And some of our elite, wanting a lockdown - elite who have privilege of spacious homes and income unaffected by fallout of lockdown,” he said in a series of tweets.

“A lockdown means collapse of ecomy and in poorer countries a steep rise in poverty, crushing poor as happened in Modi’s lockdown in India,” prime minister ded.

“Only solution as world has discovered is smart lockdown which allows for ecomic activity with SOPs. We are amongst pioneers of this approach. I appeal to civil society, media, Ulema and our tiger force to create awareness amongst public of Covid-19’s severity and need to strictly observe SOPs,” he tweeted.

Earlier this week, prime minister ordered reopening of more sectors of ecomy as part of easing lockdown in order save people’s livelihood, particularly daily-w workers. However, since n re is a spurt in new cases. PTI SH PMS

PMS