90-95% beds occupied at coronadesignated hospitals: PMA.

KARACHI -- Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has been raising its voice from the day one for taking preventive measures to control Coronavirus (COVID-19), but unfortunately the standard operating procedure (SOPs) have never been implemented. Secretary General, Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad, Pakistan Medical Association (Centre), said in statement on Monday that PMA had warned the government to take appropriate steps to stop spreading coronavirus in the country, but unfortunately the SOPs had never been implemented strictly. He said: 'We should remain thankful to God for his special blessings that we remained safe during the first wave of coronavirus and did not face the horrible situation that

was faced by many countries of the world.' Now we are facing the 2nd wave of the Coronavirus which is more lethal than the first one. It has been observed that the infected patient is getting serious and dying due to the severity of the disease and negligence of patients. We regretfully say that even after this much severity the public is seen not seriously adopting preventive measures and the government seems to have failed in implementing strict SOPsin every field of life,' he added. He lamented that the way the large political and religious gatherings continuously taking place had spread the epidemic drastically. 'A large number of doctors and paramedics have also been infected with coronavirus and are in quarantine, because they are performing their duties without PPEs and they are also not following SOPs properly. The government is not providing PPEs to healthcare workers. If the situation is worsened, the

most of the healthcare workers will not be able to treat patients as they will...