Can micro-smart lockdowns control COVID-19?

Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases have consistently registered an uptick over the past couple of weeks, with more than 750 cases were reported in the last 24 hours across the country.

This is the highest raise in the number of COVID-19 cases for this month and is more than twice the total number of cases reported in KP for the same day.

More than 50 percent of the 747 cases were reported from Karachi alone, which prompted the Sindh government to take action, and the provincial government decided to impose a micro-smart lockdown in Karachi.

The latest situation of COVID-19

The total number of people affected by the coronavirus in Pakistan has reached 312,263 and 6,479 people have lost their lives across the country on Wednesday.

According to the latest figures released by the National Command and Control Center, 747 new COVID-19 cases and 5 deaths have been reported during the last 24 hours.

The number of COVID-19 cases in Sindh reached 136,795. 99,378 cases have been reported in Punjab, 37,776 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15,257 in Balochistan, 16,581 in Islamabad, 2,698 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir, and 3,778 in Gilgit.

Sindh reports 400 new coronavirus cases

More than 400 new coronavirus cases have been reported in Sindh during the last 24 hours.

According to the latest figures released by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, 136,395 coronavirus cases have been reported in the province so far.

Murad Ali Shah said  2497 deaths have been reported in Sindh so far due to coronavirus. The condition of 172 patients infected with the virus is critical.

Citing the details the chief minister informed 297 new cases of the coronavirus have been reported from Karachi, out of which 100 cases have been reported in the Eastern District, 92 in the Southern District, 56 in Central District, 26 in Malir District, 14 in Korangi, and 9 in West.

In the past two weeks alone, the ratio of coronavirus-positive patients had risen from 1percent to 3.6 percent in Sindh province.

The decision of ‘micro-smart lockdown’

Earlier, federal government introduced a ‘micro smart lockdown’ strategy to target only specific locations affected by the coronavirus pandemic.

Now, the provincial government has decided to impose a micro-smart lockdown due to the rise in cases of coronavirus.

The Sindh government’s health department said that police will be deployed in areas with the micro-smart lockdown in place.

Officials in the Sindh Health Department said that the police would be deployed in consultation with the concerned district health officers.

Karachi police chief, district administration, and district police chiefs have also been informed in this regard.

Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Center has recommended a smart lockdown in the Karachi to curb the increasing cases of coronavirus patients.

During an NCOC meeting which was held today, it was reported that out of a total of 747 positive cases reported in the country in 24 hours, 365 infections were reported in Karachi.

In a letter issued by the health department stated that it had noticed an increase in the number of coronavirus cases in Karachi. “It is, therefore, requested to deploy police force at designated MSLD sites in consultation with concerned District Health Officers,” the letter read.

Lack of collective responsibility

The situation is exacerbated by a public which opens flouts public rules and escapes punitive action. Doctors make it compulsory to wear a face mask as well as other precautionary steps but this is hardly observed.

Schools and shops have also failed to implement the ‘no mask, no service’ nor are shopkeepers wearing a face mask. There is no doubt that our lack of collective apathy is responsible for the dire circumstances we are facing.

Violators should be dealt with strictly

The lockdown or micro smart lockdowns were planned by the concerned bureaucracy, health officials and security apparatus that were genuinely worried that the situation might get out of control necessary precautions are not enforced or adopted.

Even today the brunt of the pandemic is faced by the health officials, bureaucracy and the security apparatus. It was due to lockdown in any shape that the things are still under control and the impact of the pandemic decrease, however, due to the negligence of the masses COVID-19 situation could be deteriorated.

If there is a further surge in COVID-19 cases these three pillars of war against the pandemic might not be able to cope with it.

The administration has identified hotspots where a high number of cases are being reported and has no choice but to enforce micro smart lockdowns.

It is also responsible for the government for implementing the SOPs in the areas and those found violating the lockdown should be dealt in accordance with the law.

COVID-19 patients with no symptoms would continue to pose a threat to another spike in the pandemic. There is no need to panic but no need to relax as well.