Coronavirus cases may be limited to 225,000 by June end: Umar

Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar said on Friday that the coronavirus cases in the country may be limited to 225,000 by the end of June if people continue to take strict precautions.

While addressing the media, along with information minister Shibli Faraz, he said that as per an earlier estimate, 300,000 cases were expected nationwide by June 30. 

Umar said that when the number of COVID-19 cases surged, people started following preventive measures. “There were two weeks when the big hospitals in major cities faced pressure,” he said.

He however cautioned everyone that if the standard operating procedures are not followed then the situation can deteriorate.

The government has increased its facilities with more beds and ventilators, which gives us hope for the coming days, said Umar.

The minister said that they took into consideration experts' opinions and implemented a smart lockdown in areas with higher numbers of COVID-19 cases. 

Paying tribute to healthcare workers and those on the frontlines fighting the pandemic, he said, "Doctors and paramedical staff are busy for our protection."

"It is our responsibility to help the front-line workers by playing our part. It is not a very difficult thing to do, we just need to have a sense of responsibility. If we do this, our health system will not be paralysed," he added.

The minister stated that the smart lockdown was implemented from mid-May and in 20 cities, the pandemic seemed to be spreading at a rapid speed.

Umar said that fortunately, things seemed to be in control at the moment.

“This has given us a lesson that we can control the situation if we want to, by taking the requisite measures on time. I have given directions for data to be collected for the coming months of July and August and will take decisions according to the information that turns up.”

PM Imran says coronavirus peak expected end of July

Earlier this month, Prime Minister Imran Khan said that the cases of the deadly coronavirus in Pakistan would hit a peak by the end of July or start of August.

In his address, he also warned of "a very difficult time" ahead if people continued to ignore the standard operating procedures.

Appealing to the citizens to follow precautionary measures, PM Imran said not following the precautionary measures "will cause harm to the country".

The lockdown to curb the spread of the respiratory illness does not end it but only slows it down, the premier explained.

As of today, Pakistan recorded 195,745 cases of the virus with more than 3,900 deaths.