As China battles another variant of the new coronavirus, the rest of the world must take precautions as well. In the first quarter of 2020, the globe witnessed an extremely unprecedented event as an unknown virus began spreading at the speed of light. Lockdowns were established, and the world appeared to be descending into a dystopian nightmare. Thousands of people died worldwide as a result of the coronavirus, and many who survived have yet to fully recover. After more than a year and a half, the world began to open up and life returned to normal in 2022. However, reports of another fatal version of the virus have emerged from China, India, and the United States. China has been placed under lockdown once more, and other countries are taking all necessary precautions to keep this disease out of their borders. Pakistan, on the other hand, has taken no action as of yet. According to reports, no tests are being performed or demanded at airports, and the NCOC has made no announcements about the situation. People are no longer wearing masks, and social gatherings are becoming increasingly popular as a result of the wedding season and winters. People have not been informed of the impending peril. If the new version enters Pakistan and spreads like the previous ones, the situation would quickly deteriorate because the country’s healthcare system is not prepared to deal with a new wave. Before these newer strains appeared, Pakistan’s health care system was already struggling, with limited bed capacity at hospitals, insufficient resources for testing, and contact tracing efforts hampered by low literacy rates among rural populations – all of which made it difficult for authorities to effectively combat Covid-19 spread across Pakistan. Given this context, researchers are concerned that if any one variety takes hold or becomes dominant, Pakistan might experience a rapid surge of infections, potentially overwhelming the existing infrastructure. This likelihood is heightened by concerns that some crucial infrastructure required for successful containment may not yet be available, despite assurances made by government officials earlier this year, such as ventilators or personal protective equipment (PPE).
While citizens are becoming more aware of preventive measures such as wearing masks and social separation, the struggle against the diseases will be long and difficult without adequate healthcare facilities. Especially when dealing with large-scale outbreaks that can affect hundreds of people overnight. These folks would require rapid hospitalisation or access to immunisation clinics, both of which are currently unavailable in many underserved regions across Pakistan. Furthermore, even those who do gain access are frequently stuck with large fees due to a lack of insurance coverage, presenting an additional barrier to effectively managing pandemic-related costs.
Overall, the situation appears to be rather dire at the moment. Certain steps, however, can help improve state affairs if they are performed swiftly and without delay. Finally, it is critical to recognise how long-term planning and effective execution tactics may considerably aid the nation’s fight against dangerous diseases such as this new coronavirus type.
