WHO top emergency expert makes stunning claims over Coronavirus pandemic explosion in Pakistan and India
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GENEVA: The World Health Organisation (WHO) top emergency expert makes stunning claims over Coronavirus pandemic explosion in Pakistan and India.
WHO on Friday said the number of COVID-19 cases in India, Pakistan and Bangladesh is increasing rapidly but the disease has not exploded in the region.
"In South Asia, not just in India, but in Bangladesh and... Pakistan and other countries of South Asia with large dense populations, the disease has not exploded, but there is always the risk of that happening," Dr Mike Ryan, WHO's top emergency expert, told a news conference.
Soumya Swaminathan, WHO's chief scientist, noting India has a population of 1.3 billion, said that the 200,000 reported cases, "look big but for a country of this size it's still modest".
WHO epidemiologist Dr Maria van Kerkhove said PCR tests can show a person with mild infection being positive for fragments of the virus 2-3 weeks after the onset of symptoms and those with severe cases "for much longer". "But we don’t know what that relates to in terms of infectiousness, if somebody can actually pass the virus," she said.
Addressing the members of Corona Tiger Force today, Prime Minister Imran Khan today said that Pakistan cannot afford another lockdown.
"This country cannot undergo another lockdown. That's why we need you to spread awareness," the premier said.
