Pakistan reports 28% reduction in critical COVID-19 cases due to 'smart lockdown': NCOC

Pakistan saw a 28% reduction in critical coronavirus cases due to a “smart lockdown” and the implementation of standard operating operation (SOPs), the National Command and Control Centre said on Sunday.

According to the NCOC, the government’s decision to impose “smart lockdown” in areas reporting a spike in cases has produced the desired result as the number of cases has seen a steady decline.

Quoting data collected by Express Tribune, the NCOC said “a significant reduction in the number of positive cases has emerged as the country crossed the 100-day mark in its fight against coronavirus".

It added: “Smart lockdowns, a stronger enforcement effort, compliance of SOPs and the nationwide change in the behaviour can be credited for the current gains in the fight against COVID-19.”

A day earlier, state-run APP had quoted planning minister Asad Umar as saying that the number of COVID-19 patients on oxygen beds and ventilators has witnessed a 28% decline.

The minister said there were 2,969 COVID-19 patients on oxygen beds and 546 on ventilators on June 20. “By grace of Allah Almighty, now 1,762 patients are on oxygen beds and 394 on ventilators, thus registering 28% decrease,” he said.

The NCOC’s report comes two days after Pakistan became the 11th most affected country in the world after reporting 243,000 COVID-19 cases and crossing the 5,000 fatalities’ mark.

The rising death toll has also resulted in Pakistan overtaking China — the epicentre of the virus — in the number of deaths. Pakistan has also become the 18th worst-hit country by the coronavirus in terms of fatality.

The NCOC added that as countries around the world juggle with strategies to flatten the COVID-19 curve, Pakistan's strategy won an unexpected endorsement from the UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres.

Guterres in his Twitter post had acknowledged that there was no choice between health or jobs in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. "They are interlinked. We will either win on all fronts or fail on all fronts," said the UN Secretary-General.

WHO chief recognises Pakistan's 'positive trend'

Earlier this week World Health Organisation (WHO) Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom lauded Pakistani government’s response against the coronavirus pandemic and "recognised the positive trend of virus curtailment" in the country.

An official statement said that the prime minister apprised the WHO DG of the measures undertaken by Pakistan to stem the spread of COVID-19 in the country.

In relation to the premier's concern regarding travel restrictions, the global health watchdog assured the country's top representative that it is creating standard operating procedures to remove travel restrictions in future.

In the conversation, the two sides also discussed the challenges due to the global pandemic.

The prime minister told the WHO top official that the country has amplified healthcare facilities in wake of the coronavirus pandemic.

Tedros also lauded the Pakistani government’s response and measures to the disease that has infected millions across the globe.

Pakistan as of today recorded more than 248,856 cases of the coronavirus and 5,197 deaths.