NCOC identifies 20 cities as COVID-19 hotspots

ISLAMABAD: National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) undertook a comprehensive review of potential COVID-19 clusters and hotspots across Pakistan in line with the prime minister’s announcement of containment through smart lockdown strategy.

A total of 20 cities across Pakistan have been identified as having likely increased in the speed of infection which needs restrictive measures for containment of COVID-19.

In Islamabad, there have been more than 300 cases in Sectors G-9/2 and G-9/3 that have been sealed along with Karachi Company area. The new hotspots identified in Islamabad that are being monitored and might be sealed include Sector I-8, I-10, G6, G7 Ghauri Town and Bharakhau.

Various cities have witnessed an increase in infection cases and have been identified by NCOC for necessary restrictive measures. These include Karachi, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Swat, Hyderabad, Sukkar, Sialkot, Gujarat, Ghotki, Larkana, Khairpur, DG Khan, Malakand and Mardan.

A ‘smart lockdown’ under a test, trace and quarantine (TTQ) strategy has been imposed in various parts the country. The TTQ strategy is aimed at identifying disease spread, focused clusters/hotspots to enable targeted lockdowns and need-driven resource optimisation at all levels.

The strategy has been formulated to keep the spread of the disease in check while different sectors open up. The strategy involves ramping up of testing, rapidly tracing the contacts of confirmed positive cases, and effective quarantining of positive and suspected cases.

NCOC was briefed in detail about operationalisation of additional oxygenated beds and vents including the procurement of the critical healthcare equipment by National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) as announced by the prime minister.

A total of 2150 additional oxygenated beds will be functional by end-July to meet additional requirements. Around 1000 oxygenated beds will be functional by end-June and another 1150 oxygenated beds by end of July.