ISLAMABAD: The government believes that coronavirus cases will go up to 225,000 by June 30 in the country but expresses satisfaction that the number is still lower than its expectations.

The country reported 3,092 Covid-19 cases and 73 deaths over the past 24 hours, taking the national tally of cases to 197,705 and casualties to 4,004.

“We were expecting over 300,000 cases in the country by June 30, but they will remain less than 225,000,” Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said at a press conference with Information Minister Shibli Faraz on Friday.

After a meeting held at the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to review the Covid-19 situation, Mr Umar, however, said the danger was still there as the situation could turn worse if people did not follow the government’s standard operating procedures (SOPs).

3,092 people test positive for Covid-19 and 73 lose their lives in 24 hours

He said the government had taken three major steps that led to a decline in the tally of coronavirus cases in the country. “First we made it mandatory on May 30 that everyone will have to use face mask in public places, since June 4 administrative actions were expedited regarding implementation of SOPs and from June 14 smart lockdowns were enhanced and Covid-19 hotspots were declared in 20 major cities,” he added.

Mr Umar, who is also head of the NCOC, warned people to adopt precautionary measures, otherwise the number of Covid-19 cases would increase to the extent that the country’s health system would collapse. “Now it’s in our hand that we take precautionary measure and save our health system.”

He said two specific weeks in recent past were quite crucial during which there was an immense pressure of coronavirus patients on big hospitals in major cities, but the situation would be under control as by the end of this month 2,000 additional beds will be included in the health system.

The minister said some improvement and downward trend had been observed in Covid-19 cases during the last two to three weeks. “Similarly, there will be a better situation in the days to come,” he hoped.

With 197,535 cases recorded so far across the country, Sindh is still on the top with 76,318 cases, followed by Punjab 71,987, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 24,943, Balochistan 9,946, Islamabad 11,981, Gilgit-Baltistan 1,398 and AJK with 962 cases.

So far 84,168 people have recovered across the country, while the condition of about 2,765 patients is critical.

Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah said 5,103 tests had been conducted in the province during the past 24 hours, of which 1,150 came as positive, showing 22 per cent detection rate. “This is one of the highest and we have to control it by following the guidelines issued by experts, the government and the WHO (World Heath Organisation),” he added.

Published in Dawn, June 27th, 2020