Coronaviruses belongs to the virus family that causes diseases in animals. Including Covid-19, there are seven viruses that have made impact on human, but just causing cold like symptoms. Severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) and Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) are much more severe than the Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19), it doesn’t really mean, it is not dangerous but Confirmed cases have been categorized, 20 percent as critical and the current death ratio is varying between 0.7 percent and 3.4 percent depending on location and accessibility to the quality medical care.
According to the reports and data on the initial 44000 cases released by the Chinese authorities, 80 percent cases were mild, 14-15 percent caused severity in disease including pneumonia and short breathing, and in only 5 percent it was critical towards organ failure and respiratory failure.
When the world is forcing on quarantines and travel restrictions, Pakistani society is still unaware of taking the real and concrete measures to minimize the impacts. Pakistan has only small number of identified cases, may be because of our inability or the state is underplaying to avoid panic but fortunately, still we are weeks away where the China, Iran or Europe today is. This was the severity of the problem that an emergency meeting of National Security Committee was called by the Prime Minister to discuss the situation of the epidemics, a coordination committee was formed, Iran and Afghanistan boarders are closed, international flights are stopped, public gatherings are restricted by enforcing section 144, all the educational institutions, cinemas, zoos, wedding halls are shut down, courts have changed the hearing procedures but this all happened after positive cases were reported across the country. Still this is not enough as there are many things state need to do and there are many things the nation needs to do.
Quarantine and screening facility on the airports might be successful for the air travelers but what has been done for the local bus stations and the train stations from where thousands of people travel daily? 35 Isolation wards for Covid-19 has been established across the country with the test facility, few private laboratories are also providing the diagnostic services for Covid-19 but at a higher price of PKR 7900, unaffordable for the average citizen living far away from the metropolitans where the state facilities are available, government should talk to the laboratories to provide low cost test services at patient’s doorsteps to stop suspects traveling for state facilities, leaving the healthy people at risk during travel.
Government needs to come out of the usual political mood, Pakistan is a developing nation, with an already weak economy, which is facing hurdles now experiencing halted regional trade and restricted tourism, it is important to take all the political parties on board as they have governing experience as compare to the current younger regime. Back to back transfers of the three officials as Health Secretary of Pakistan is not a good move to fight the contagious COVID-19, which sparked panic around the globe due to its rapid spread and killing potential. This was the right time where the elected representatives of local government could have played their roles to fight the pandemic but unfortunately they are not in the office and health authorities are being run without elected local government representatives creating unnecessary pressure on the health professionals and the district administration during the massive arrangements for the suspects and the infected. The common Pakistani citizens have no idea about quarantines, social distancing or travel bans for that it is very important to start an effective campaign, like the previous government did to overcome epidemics like dengue, for that the role of federal and provincial information ministries is very important and crucial. Ample funds should be allocated to procure protective equipments, Medical/Health professionals should be treated in a well-deserved way as they are required to work more than usual and are the front warriors of this war with an unseen foe. The local vendor, producers and distributors of mask, sanitizers, and toilet papers should be checked by the price control committees for their availability and stop hoardings.
Pakistan is a land of culture, hugs, handshakes and close contacts are our social norms showing affection and love for each other, traditionally and having rich culture with great social interaction our weddings and deaths are held as social events with big crowds, festivals and annual celebrations of the Sufi saints are another way of gathering people, visiting shrines and other religious actions are part of our culture and religious obligations. Although the measures initially taken by the Sindh government followed by Punjab and federal are very correct but tough and unliking and human safety is always the first priority even according to the teachings of Islam and other religions. Nation should have to be very responsive collectively, it is very important to bear the unliking acts very strictly to save all from this pandemic and most importantly instead of following and sharing unauthentic news and solutions on social media follow state institutions and rely on credible sources of government.
