Islamabad: Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a televised address, on Friday said the country is faring better than the earlier predicted coronavirus figures

“The number of cases will continue to rise, but fortunately, our current numbers stand below the number of projected cases [by this time] which was 52,000.”

“The numbers are expected to rise and we are prepared for that. The government is working towards enhancing its health facilities and increasing capacity.”
However, he observed, that the country has other health crises to deal with as well. “Those can’t be ignored while we address the coronavirus pandemic.”

According to the prime minister, two immunisation cycles were affected in recent months.

PM Imran stressed that the virus is here to stay for another year or two and it is our collective responsibility to follow the SOPs and mandated guidelines.

“Out of every 100 coronavirus cases, only three to four have to be hospitalised. But as the number of cases increases, the number of hospitalisations will also rise.”

The PM warned that the lockdown could be reimposed in areas where the number of infections rose rapidly.

Reiterating that the government was dealing with the crisis on the basis of consensus, the prime minister appealed to the provinces to reopen public transport.

He insisted that it was the common man that was suffering due to public transport being suspended.

“When countries like the USA, where nearly 2,000 people are dying daily are resuming public transport, then how are we keeping it halted,” he said.

The prime minister reiterated that the lockdown has been eased to facilitate low-income groups and allow for economic activities.

“Around 150 million people were affected by the lockdown enforced in the country to contain the spread of Covid-19.”

The prime minister put forth to the medical community how it expected for the country to afford a lockdown. “We can contain the virus by enforcing a lockdown. But can we stop it?” asked the PM.

“Scientists expect that there will be no vaccine for the virus this year. We will have to learn to live with it”.

The premier also stressed that the country could not afford an indefinite lockdown.

https://tribune.com.pk/story/2222190/1-faring-better-predicted-coronavirus-figures-pm-khan/