LAHORE: Various associations of doctors have expressed serious concern over the fast spread of coronavirus, saying the situation may go out of control if standard operating procedures (SOPs) are not followed during lockdown in Punjab.

Pakistan Islamic Medical Association, Pakistan Medical Association, Pakistan Academy of Family Physicians and Young Doctors Association Punjab issued a joint declaration, saying the Covid-19 cases had increased threefold while deaths five times during the last two weeks in Punjab.

The medics called this sudden spike alarming and disturbing, saying the number might go up further in the coming weeks. They suggested the Punjab government take the situation serious.

The medics said the Punjab government had exempted over a hundred businesses across the province from the lockdown and the crowd in bazaars and other public places had set alarm bells ringing for health professionals.

The doctors said they were aware of the problems the poor were faced with, but coronavirus required equal importance and the Punjab government should take all measures to ensure implementation of social distancing and other SOPs in the best interest of the public.

They warned of an “alarming acceleration” of cases in the future if the government continued to lift restrictions so quickly. The government would have to learn and redefine its strategies. Any premature ease in lockdown could lead to disastrous consequences as the virus was heading to its peak, the medical experts said.

Published in Dawn, May 11th, 2020