Coronavirus claims 40 more lives in single day.

Byline: Ikram Junaidi

ISLAMABAD -- As the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Covid-19 has finalised recommendations to further ease restrictions, the medical fraternity seems divided over the federal government's proposal, with the number of deaths rising to 40 in a single day.

As per a statement of the Ministry of National Health Services, the recommendations include the opening of second phase of construction sector, reopening of retail outlets, and operationalisation of selective Out Patients Departments in hospitals of Islamabad. It has been suggested that shops/malls should remain open from 9am to 5pm and then from 8pm to 10pm.

However, some doctors fear that relaxing the lockdown will be disastrous for the country. Others believe Pakistan has no option but to revive economic activities to protect the masses from 'hunger virus'.

Doctors divided over lockdown relaxation

While talking to Dawn, Dr Javed Akram, the vice chancellor of the University of Health Sciences (UHS), said he was in favour of restrictions but as the government looked at it with different angles, he would suggest that the lockdown be relaxed with an increase in number of tests.

'There is no doubt that daily wage earners and other segments of society have been suffering with economic issues. Prime Minister Imran Khan has said a number of times that he has to care about the poor. PakAistan is not a rich country and the issue is not going to be addAressed in a short time. So I suggest that we should relax the lockAdown but the number of tests should be increased. CurrAently Al-Khidmat Foundation has been doing tests for Rs3,000 and Bahria Town is conducting tests for just Rs2,000. The government should involve philanthropists and reduce the charges of tests,' he added.

Dr Akram explained that in South Korea companies were involved, by the government, to test the masses and suggested that in Pakistan it should be made mandatory that every organisation should pay for the test of suspected employees.

Health system may collapse

However, President of the Young Consultants Association of Pakistan Dr Asfandyar Khan disagreed with the proposal. He said: 'I am shocked to hear that a recommendation has been given to open OPDs and shopping malls. I fear that it will increase the number of patients manifold and the health system may collapse. We are living in a country where even doctors are not getting ventilators. One should imagine what will be the situation after...

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