COVID-19
As we all known about the current situation of pakistan. Pakistan has also bear coronavirus (covid-19) disease. As of now, it appears that COVID-19 is being spread by people who have been infected when they either sneeze, cough or exhale.
The virus can spread from person to person through small droplets from the nose or mouth, as the droplets land on objects and surfaces around the person. When healthy people touch the objects or surfaces and then touch their eyes, nose or mouth they can catch the virus. They can also catch the virus if they breathe in droplets from a person with COVID-19 who coughs out or exhales droplets. Hence it is important to stay more than 1 meter (3 feet) away from a person who is sick. Research on other ways that the virus is being spread is ongoing at the moment. COVID-19 is an ongoing infectious global pandemic caused by the most recently discovered coronavirus.
The virus was unknown until the outbreak began in Wuhan, China in December 2019. As of March 12, 2020, over 4500 people had perished from the disease and there were over 130,000 reported cases from around the world. Before the coronavirus outbreak in Pakistan, the first Pakistani student was registered COVID19 positive, he was studying in China, later five other cases were registered positive. All of them were successfully recovered after two weeks of treatment. Apart from China, another Pakistani was not only reported positive also die from the virus infection in Italy on 11th March 2020. Till date few other Pakistani were reported positive at different countries including Afghanistan (12th March 2020), Palestine (20th March 2020) and Gaza (21st March 2020). In Pakistan, from 3 January 2020 to 10:39am CEST, 26 May 2021, there have been 905,852 confirmed cases of COVID-19 with 20,400 deaths, reported to WHO.
As of 20 May 2021, a total of 4,956,853 vaccine doses have been administered. The government announced a second spell of Covid-19 in Pakistan on October 28, 2020, when a daily increase in cases reached 750 compared to 400 to 500 a few weeks ago. Sudden increase in active cases from 6,000 to 11,000 and hospital admissions with critical cases of 93 on ventilators were recorded across the country [2]. The data released by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) indicate that the current percent positivity rate is closed to 3 compared to the previous figure of less than 2 and the average number of deaths is exceeding 11 per day.The government is censuring the public for the rise and worsening situation of the pandemic in Pakistan by not observing standard operating procedures (SOPs)–apparently to mask its failure in not taking appropriate steps and decisions which led to the current situation.
Now this time of The COVID-19 situation in Pakistan is once again getting precarious. Since the last two weeks the daily average death rate is near 125/day and daily confirmed cases have been above 4500. While the national positivity rate is +10%, many large cities show much higher positivity rates (Faisalabad 18%, Mardan 17%, Peshawar 16%, Karachi 14%, Lahore 13%, Multan 10.5% Rawalpindi 9%, Islamabad 9%) Major hospitals in larger cities are approaching full capacity. The 3rd wave, the government has announced re-imposition of the following social restrictions to avoid huge congregations during the End of Ramadan festivities: complete lockdown in all the larger cities from 8 May to 16 May; all commercial markets, amusement parks closed – complete ban on local tourism; all restaurants, community centers, marriage halls closed for indoor service, 50% work from home policy imposed – All sports, cultural and other social events banned – Schools closed till 23 May – local public transport shut down – Intercity travel shut down. Inbound international flights to be reduced by 80%. All inbound passengers will undergo a rapid antigen test on arrival. Those testing positive will be moved to government designated quarantine facilities for 10 days. Those testing negative will still have to self-isolate at home.
Pakistan’s already fragile economy had only just been moving towards stability when the health crisis struck. Experts fear that the pandemic’s economic fallout will considerably derail the country’s recovery process. The pandemic has also taken a devastating blow on the Pakistani economy.”Pakistan’s economy is shrinking, unemployment is rising and various sectors are in crisis”. Pakistan’s exports primarily comprise of textile products. These exports are down since the COVID-19 crisis started, with some orders even being canceled. “All of this will negatively impact foreign reserves and ultimately the currency value. In the long run, financial markets will also be negatively affected,” When Khan took power in 2018, Pakistan’s GDP growth was around 5.8%; now it is 0.98% and is likely to decline further. The country’s fiscal deficit is almost 10% and revenues have plummeted in the past two years.