Follow SOPs to avoid Covid lockdown: PM

Prime Minister Imran Khan has stopped short of order a complete lockdown, urging people to follow coronavirus standard operating procedures to minimize the spread of the virus.

“If everyone follows Covid SOPs, then perhaps there won’t be a need to do a lockdown of our cities,” PM said. “I have asked the army to assist our law-enforcement agencies and the police in enforcing that people follow all Covid SOPs.”

The PM was addressing the nation after chairing an important meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) Friday afternoon to give an update on the new coronavirus restrictions as the country battles the third wave of the virus.

“People are telling me all the time to do a lockdown – but I keep saying that No – we can’t do that because what will happen to those who earn daily wages.”

It was expected that a lockdown would be imposed in cities where the positivity ratio is above 10%.

The premier, however, announced that a lockdown would not be implemented for now as it will affect the working class and their businesses.

He emphasised on the need to wear a mask at all times. The premier said help will be taken from the Pakistan Army to implement coronavirus SOPs.

“Barely anyone is following SOPs anymore,” he said, adding that if we are not careful, the situation in Pakistan will be similar to that of India in the next one or two weeks.

After a brief statement, the premier handed the announcement over to Federal Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, who listed down some of the important decisions taken during the NCC meeting.

The meeting reviewed the current pandemic situation in the country to decide about imposing further restrictions as the third wave of coronavirus wreaks havoc in Pakistan.

The session was attended by chief ministers, ministers and chief secretaries.

It was expected that commercial activities and offices may also be closed due to the worsening COVID-19 situation.

On Thursday, Umar and Special Assistant on Health Dr Faisal Sultan called on PM Khan and briefed him in detail about the coronavirus situation in the country after which the NCC meeting was convened.

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday had suggested more restrictions to control COVID-19.

“We will have to increase the restrictions. If we do not contain the rapid spread of the pandemic, we will have no option but to impose a complete lockdown in the big cities,” Umar had said after chairing an NCOC meeting.

The minister had warned that this was the last chance for people to take the pandemic seriously as done in the first wave last year. Otherwise, he warned, they would have to suffer strict restrictions.

He regretted that neither was the public nor the administration showing responsibility to ensure full compliance with precautions and anti-COVID SOPs issued by the government.

Umar had warned that the country was only a few days away from a complete lockdown so people must follow SOPs to stem the surge of COVID-19.