ISLAMABAD: While appealing to the citizens to follow safety standard operating procedures (SOPs) against the COVID-19, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has warned of a more lethal second wave of the disease.
Hailing the government’s decision to impose fines on those not wearing masks in public, the PMA urged the government to take strict action against those not following the Covid-19 SOPs.
“The virus has claimed the lives of at least eight doctors in the past three weeks, said the PMA in a statement.
The PMA also suggested the government to organize a mask distribution drive and ensure prices of masks and sanitizers are controlled.
The PMA also sought personal protection equipment for doctors and paramedical staff from the government and demanded the release of funds promised under an already announced package.
Professor of Endocrinology Dr Rauf Niazi said, “The Covid-19 is more lethal in the second wave compared to the first surge in Pakistan”. The patients received by the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) in recent times appeared to be severely ill than before, Dr Niazi added.
Till now, at least 20 more deaths have been reported from the coronavirus in Pakistan, bringing the total death toll to 6,943.
According to the National Command and Operations Center, 1,502 new cases of coronavirus were reported across the country and the total number of affected people has reached 341,753.
In Pakistan, 317,898 coronavirus patients have recovered and 16,912 are undergoing treatment. The number of coronavirus cases in Islamabad has reached 21,302. At least 106,208 cases have been reported in Punjab, 148,922 in Sindh, 40,285 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 16,041 in Balochistan, 4,343 in Gilgit-Baltistan, and 4,652 in Azad Kashmir.
The coronavirus has killed 2,399 people in Punjab and 2,667 in Sindh. The death toll in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has risen to 1,288, in Islamabad 236, in Balochistan 153, in Gilgit-Baltistan 93, and in Azad Kashmir 107.
The National Command and Operations Center has made it mandatory to wear a mask to prevent coronavirus in Pakistan. Citizens must wear masks when leaving their homes. Masks will be required for those working in government and private sector offices.
