More cases than China

The number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan has now crossed China. The deadly virus emerged in the Chinese city of Wuhan late last year and gradually spread across the world. The number of COVID-19 infection in Pakistan have reached 85,264 while China has recorded 84,160 cases.

Pakistan recorded the highest single-day spike in cases with 4,688 new infections yesterday, which was the highest in the world during a 24-hour period. Pakistan has been recording more cases per day than even hard-hit countries such as Brazil and Mexico.

China has been among the first country to gain control over the virus due to a strict lockdown for two months. On the contrary, Pakistan eased lockdown restriction at the same time when the number of cases were surging and despite recommendations from health experts to maintain them.

Most of the cases are locally transmitted which emerged during the recent Eid holidays as people flouted all social distancing regulations and safety precautions. Businesses have been allowed to operate and more sectors are being reopened but the implementation of SOPs remains ineffective. Under such circumstances, the government has been considering to shut down those neglecting the regulations.

The government has now set up special committees to ensure the compliance of SOPs and has vowed punitive action against violators particularly markets and transport. This may be too little, too late; coronavirus has spread rapidly across the population and the peak has yet to come. Pakistan is now among the worst affected countries in the world and the situation could worsen.

Punjab was among the first to rush down with easing lockdown restrictions. Now a startling report has been presented to Chief Minster Buzdar expressing concerns that there may alone be over half a million cases alone in Lahore. Similar tests have also been conducted in Karachi and the results have been baffling as we now have one of the highest percentages of case infections in the world.

There is no way out of the sordid situation we have been dragged into and yet we have been receiving mixed signals from the government which is more concerned about reopening the economy. Scientists have now said that the fastest a vaccine was readily available for the public was four years. We may certainly have to live with the virus but what will be the cost of our negligence and lack of concern.