Pakistan likely to go for entire lockdown over Coronavirus outbreak
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ISLAMABAD - Pakistan likely to go for entire lockdown over Coronavirus outbreak.
As the first coronavirus patient died in Karachi, the Sindh government on Friday urged citizens to practice self-isolation for three days whereas Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Information and Broadcasting Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan said that that the government is heading towards a two-week lockdown.
Speaking to a local TV channel, Firdous said that the government was in the process of making important decisions pertaining to overseas Pakistanis and international flights. Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was also part of the meeting via video link. According to the PM’s aide, the decisions will be announced by the Aviation and National Security Divisions.
Earlier, hours after a 77-year-old coronavirus patient, who was a cancer survivor and had diabetes and hypertension but no travel or contact history, died in Karachi, Sindh CM Murad said that the people should go into complete isolation for three days as it is important for them to stay inside for their personal safety and the safety of others.
Meanwhile, the Balochistan government also imposed a partial lockdown for 21 days to prevent the spread of the virus as the cases increased to 81.
Separately, Prime Minister Imran Khan also urged the nation to adopt social distancing as a precautionary measure against the threat of coronavirus pandemic and said that Centre might consider a nationwide lockdown if things get out of hand.
Talking to senior journalists in the federal capital, he said that it is very important that those who show symptoms of coronavirus must go into self-quarantine. He added that people should avoid social gatherings for the next two months.
“We can manage the outbreak. There is a difference of opinion, but some doctors say that the type of heat Pakistan experiences, that makes the virus lose its effectiveness to spread,” he said.
