Despite the Omicron-driven fifth wave of Covid-19 spreading at an alarming rate, the Sindh government on Saturday decided that schools across the province will remain open.
The decision to continue educational activities was taken in a meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Covid-19 presided over by Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah amidst reports of 35.3 per cent positivity ratio of the virus in Karachi.
The meeting’s participants also decided that all public and private hospitals will be surveyed in order to determine their current capacities and to ascertain what more is needed.
It was also decided to strictly implement Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Furthermore, wearing masks at public places, markets and wedding halls was declared mandatory. The government officials who do not wear masks would be fined, which, it was suggested, could be equal to their one day’s salary. Additionally, it was instructed that food at wedding events would be served in boxes.
Meanwhile, only vaccinated people would be allowed to enter markets, with the management required to check the record of vaccination cards. It was also decided to further speed up the pace of vaccination efforts across the province.
“The increase in Covid cases is the result of not taking precautionary measures. If the people cooperate, this ongoing Covid wave will also be brought under control,” the chief minister said.
The participants of the meeting also decided that restaurants would be monitored and action be taken against those who did not comply with the SOPs.
Another session of the task force will be held after a few days, with the chief minister adding that further decisions would be taken upon a review of the situation then.
“The number of deaths and hospitalisation hasn’t increased the way [it did last year], though the burden of infections has risen dramatically,” Murad had told reporters at the Dow University of Health Sciences.
Asked about the possibility of a lockdown or closing schools and other educational institutions due to a spike in Covid-19 cases, he had said the health facilities were not under pressure right now and that the provincial government was in contact with the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) for decisions. According to the federal and provincial data, Karachi reported 2,816 cases over the last 24 hours, while Sindh reported a total of 3,089 cases. The figure for Sindh was the highest number of daily infections since the pandemic began.
Meanwhile, Pakistan reported 4,286 new Covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, up 20 per cent from Friday’s 3,571 infections. It was the highest daily caseload since August 28 when 4,467 cases were confirmed. The countrywide positivity also rose to 8.16 per cent. The overall cases have reached 1.32 million after the detection of new infections, while the death toll now stands at 29,003 as four deaths were reported from the coronavirus in the last 24 hours.
The NCOC on Saturday reviewed the existing protocols and called on the health and education ministers to suggest a new set of guidelines amid the fifth wave of coronavirus. The new set of SOPs will be put forth in a meeting on January 17, with its focus on schools and the education sector as a whole, public gatherings, marriage ceremonies, indoor/outdoor dining, and the transport sector, according to a statement. The forum discussed the epidemic curve chart data, disease prevalence, and proposed non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) in wake of rising disease trends in the country, especially in the urban centres, it said.
With regards to the aviation sector, the NCOC decided to implement a complete ban on inflight serving of meals and snacks with effect from January 17, along with strict compliance with SOPs at all airports.
The forum asked the federating units to take strict measures against violators of existing SOPs, especially those not wearing masks. It also directed them to ensure enforcement of obligatory vaccination regime.
Moreover, federating units were asked to carry out immediate surveys of health care facilities (including oxygenated beds), oxygen stocks, and reserves, the statement said.
In light of the recent surge in cases, Pakistan has started administering booster doses to the population. Earlier on Friday, the NCOC further reduced the age limit for booster jabs. “From tomorrow (Saturday) onwards, citizens over 18 years will be eligible for a free booster dose of their choice. Booster (one dose) will be administered after a six-month gap from complete vaccination,” the forum had said on Friday.
