ISLAMABAD: A new wave of the coronavirus pandemic may hit Pakistan in July if health guidelines are not strictly observed, Planning Minister Asad Umar said on Friday.
Pakistan has been reopening all sectors over a steady decline in coronavirus cases and its coronavirus positivity rate is now about 2.3 percent compared to more than 11 percent in April. However social distancing, mask wearing, and other virus protocols are often ignored, raising concerns that the calm may end soon.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned last week that without strict implementation of health guidelines, the country would face a fourth wave of the pandemic, as the highly contagious virus variants first reported in the UK, South Africa, Brazil and India are already present in the country.
The planning minister, who heads the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) that oversees coronavirus response, said he had reviewed the agency’s analyzes on Thursday and the fourth wave may emerge in the country next month.
“Reviewed the artificial intelligence-based disease modeling analysis today in NCOC,” Umar said in a tweet. “In the absence of strong SOP enforcement and continued strong vaccination program, the 4th wave could emerge in Pakistan in July.”
Reviewed the artificial intelligence based disease modeling analysis today in NCOC . In the absence of strong SOP enforcement and continued strong vaccination program, the 4th wave could emerge in Pakistan in July. Please adhere to sop's and vaccinate as soon as possible.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) June 25, 2021
Pakistan started its vaccination drive in February, planning to inoculate 70 million people of its 220 million population by next year. So far, it has administered 14.5 million doses to its citizens, attracting criticism that reaching the vaccination target may take years.
