Pakistan to lift lockdown from Saturday despite rising COVID-19 curve

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s coronavirus lockdown will be lifted in phases starting from Saturday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said on Thursday, despite the fact that number of cases in the country were increasing.
The country has been observing a nationwide partial lockdown since March 23 to stem the spread of coronavirus. It had closed educational institutions, public transport, markets and other public places to ensure social distancing.
“We are lifting the lockdown because our laborers and daily wagers are suffering,” the prime minister said in a televised address to the nation after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) in Islamabad.
The NCC is the country’s apex decision making body on coronavirus that comprises top civilian and military leadership including chief ministers of all the provinces.
Pakistan has reported 24,073 coronavirus cases with 564 deaths, and recorded its highest single-day increase of 1,523 cases on Thursday. The government claimed the number of cases was increasing with increased testing capacity as 12,196 COVID-19 tests were carried out in the last twenty four hours.
“We know that we are doing it [lifting the lockdown] at a time when our coronavirus curve is going up, but it is still slow as compared to other countries,” the prime minister said.
The government is allowing all businesses to reopen five days a week as strict lockdown will be observed on each Saturday and Sunday. Some specific outpatient departments [OPDs] of public hospitals will also be allowed to resume their operations. However, shopping malls, cinemas, restaurants, banquets, public transport and railways will remain closed till further order.
The provincial governments have been authorized to decide on opening of intra-district transportation with consultation. The government has also extended suspension of domestic flight operations till Sunday, May 10.
Pipe, paint, ceramics, sanitary wares, tires, electrical and electronics cables, steel and aluminum industry, and all hardware shops will be allowed to open, as per the government’s decision. The government has already opened construction and agriculture related industry to revive the economic activity in the country.
Schools will also remain closed till July 15 while all board examinations through the country have been canceled.
“Students will be assessed and promoted on the basis of their previous performance in the board exams,” Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood said while addressing the nation alongside the prime minister.
“Students’ health and their education cannot be compromised, the minister said.
During the step by step relaxation in the lockdown, the National Command and Control Center [NCOC] will monitor each step and further decisions will be made based on its observations.
Meanwhile, the prime minister has urged the public to take responsibility, all precautions and follow the government’s standard operating procedures [SOPs] to prevent spread of the virus.
“If people failed to follow the SOPs and cases spiked, we will be left with no option but to enforce the lockdown again,” the prime minister warned.