KARACHI: The government on Saturday admitted that the country’s oxygen supply system to hospitals had come under immense pressure during the last few days with a number of critical Covid-19 patients remaining 30 per cent higher than registered in June 2020 when the first wave of the pandemic had hit its peak.

Key officials of the federal government warned that the carelessness of the people and irresponsible attitude of society could lead to extreme measures to contain the spread of the third wave of the coronavirus, which has emerged more infectious and deadly.

At a meeting presided over by President Dr Arif Alvi and attended by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar to deliberate upon the situation owing to the third wave of the coronavirus and implementation of precautionary measures with other senior members of the federal government, options were discussed to prevent the spread of the coronavirus in urban centres with the minimum pressure on the common man.

“President Dr Arif Alvi has appealed [to] the masses to determinedly adopt precautionary measures to curtail the spread of Covid-19,” said a statement issued from Governor House after the meeting and quoted him as saying: “The rapidly spreading third wave of Covid-19 is more lethal and needed wider adoption of precautionary steps by [the] masses.”

Dr Alvi added that the government required cooperation from the public to deal with the situation. “Adopting a few safeguards could save lives,” he said.

The federal planning minister briefed the meeting regarding the spread of the third wave of the coronavirus, measures taken by the government for the enforcement of SOPs and import of vaccines.

“A significant increase has been recorded in coronavirus cases, putting the oxygen providing capacity under pressure due to its rising demand in hospitals,” the federal minister told the meeting. “Currently, the number of patients in critical condition is 30 per cent higher as compared to June 2020. Appeals are being made time and again to the masses for the adoption of preventive safeguards, otherwise, the government would have no other option left but to enforce lockdown.”

Published in Dawn, April 25th, 2021