ISLAMABAD: Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out on Sunday a nationwide lockdown despite a recent surge in coronavirus infections.
At least 4,767 new COVID-19 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, a record this year. In all, 654,591 cases and 14,215 deaths linked to the virus have been recorded in Pakistan, a country of 220 million, since February last year.
Pakistan imposed a strict countrywide lockdown in March 2020 to contain the spread of the virus, but as early as in mid-April the government began lifting it in phases — a move pushed primarily by fears of an economic meltdown. By August, all business activity reopened.
Since a rise in infection figures has been observed for the past few weeks, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) earlier on Sunday imposed a ban on all indoor and outdoor gatherings and directed provincial authorities to put in place partial lockdowns in regions where COVID-19 positivity rates were high. Last week, the NCOC ruled that all education institutions located in areas with high coronavirus positivity would remain closed until April 11.
"We cannot lock the entire country because we do not have the resources to feed and take care of people. Even countries richer than us do not have such resources," Khan said in a video address to the nation.
He added that in the current pandemic situation Pakistan should "impose lockdown in the entire country" but it is not possible.
"We cannot close down our factories and businesses," he said.
The prime minister also called on the public to follow safety precautions.
"I request everyone to be very cautious and most importantly wear masks," he said. "Masks are important because they reduce the spread of disease."
Khan himself had tested positive for the virus last week and was widely criticized a few days into quarantine for floating his own government's health guidelines when photos showing him holding an in-person meeting at his residence in Islamabad made the rounds on social media.
On Sunday, Khan's special assistant on public health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, tweeted that he has now been allowed to "resume work and build up his work routine over the next few days" as he had made "steady clinical recovery."