KARACHI: Expressing concern over the increase in coronavirus cases following significant relaxation in Covid-19 related restrictions across the country, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned on Monday that the situation could get serious if respective provincial governments didn’t take “extraordinary measures” to ensure compliance with the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

“A worrisome situation is emerging as Covid-19 cases are rising again while the general public has stopped following SOPs, wrongly believing that cases are going down. On the other hand, the government has allowed all kinds of business, commercial, academic and social activities,” said Dr Qaiser Sajjad representing PMA on Monday.

Warns of fourth coronavirus wave

He feared that the rising Covid-19 cases might develop into a “fourth coronavirus wave” putting pressure on the fragile health infrastructure.

“We need to understand that it’s a new disease and that the virus has the ability to mutate. The country has already reported four Covid-19 variants and we don’t know the efficacy of the vaccines being used against a specific variant. The developing situation can get serious by the end of this month or beginning of August.”

Of the reported four Covid-19 variants, he pointed out, the most dangerous one was the delta variant which had played havoc in India this year. “Also, we must realize that our health system is fragile, we need to be very careful, else negligence and carelessness might cost us.”

He urged people to be cautious and ensure compliance with SOPs at public places including wearing of masks, frequent hand-washing and ensuring social distancing, especially on Eid.

“If you have got a vaccine jab, it’s your responsibility to motivate and help people around you to get vaccinated, too. If we don’t act fast, the government might have to close down everything before Eid.”

Dr Sajjad called upon the government to ensure availability of vaccine supplies at all its units and address complaints pertaining to getting a Covid-19 vaccination certificate.

It might be recalled that the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) in recent weeks has been lifting curbs on Covid-19 related restrictions after seeing an overall improvement in the Covid-19 situation in the country. This included withdrawing 50 per cent work-from-home policy and ensuring 100pc office attendance and gradually normalising inbound international air travel.

Home quarantine requirement for negative rapid antigen test cases was abolished and those who tested positive at airports were allowed to undergo quarantine at their homes instead of government facilities.

According to the NCOC website, the number of daily Covid-19 cases dropped from four digits to three digits on June 25. It remained at around 900 till June 27 and further fell to 735 on June 28.

Then, the number of cases gradually started increasing and doubled in just one week. The positivity rate was less than 2pc in June but it has now reached near 3pc.

The NCOC data showed that 29 deaths and 1,228 cases were reported in a single day and the number of active cases was 32,621 as of July 4. There were 2,126 patients admitted to hospitals across the country.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2021