WHILE the daily count is showing a declining trend, the country still remains in the grip of the fifth wave of Covid-19. Feb 4 was the fifth consecutive day that the number of total cases remained below 7,000, but just a few days before, on Jan 27, Pakistan had recorded 8,183 new coronavirus infections. That was the highest daily caseload since the beginning of the pandemic in February 2020. Moreover, no less than 14 cities that day reported a positivity rate of over 11pc, although taking the entire country into account, the figure remains just under 10pc. The number of fatalities also indicates we are far from turning the corner. In the 24 hours preceding Friday, 42 people lost their lives to Covid-19, the country’s highest daily death toll since Oct 6 when 46 people had lost their battle against the disease.
The focus remains, as it should, on observing SOPs and getting vaccinations, and also boosters where applicable. It has been found that those who have taken their jabs, and especially a booster shot, are likely to experience comparatively milder symptoms of the infection, whatever the variant. Certainly, the National Command and Operation Centre has done a commendable task of addressing this once-in-a-century public health challenge. As per its data, 36pc of the country’s total population and 54pc of the eligible population have been vaccinated thus far. Given the massive numbers involved this is not an achievement to dismiss lightly. However, as the number of infections at present show, we cannot afford to become complacent and rest on our laurels. Here it has to be conceded that the observance of SOPs leaves much to be desired: it is sloppy, cavalier and honoured more in the breach than otherwise. The authorities themselves have allowed some large-scale public gatherings to go ahead despite the risk of these becoming superspreader events. We have been very fortunate thus far. Covid-19 could have gone very differently for Pakistan. One does not have to look far to see a worst-case scenario. Consider our neighbour, India, where on Friday the official death toll passed the somber milestone of 500,000 — a figure that is almost certainly extremely conservative. Fatalities from Covid-19 in Pakistan are around 29,500, a vastly lower ratio even after accounting for the difference in the total population of each country. While the government should continue to push ahead with vaccinations, it must impress upon the provinces to strictly enforce SOPs.
Published in Dawn, February 6th, 2022
