ISLAMABAD   -  As Islamabad is coping with an increase in the critical Covid-19 patients, Federal Minister Asad Umar Friday said that Pakistan had so far managed to handle the increase in oxygen requirements for Covid-19 patients in critical condition.

Umar revealed that total number of critical care Covid patients on oxygen reached 5,360 on Thursday — 57 percent more than June last year, when the country last witnessed a peak in the cases. He said Pakistan has so far managed to cope with the increase in critical care Covid-19 patients by proactively building the capacity of the entire system. In a series of tweets on Friday, he said that the total number of critical care patients who were being provided oxygen had reached 5,360 on Thursday. He, however, cautioned that the “challenge is not over and is in fact continuing to increase.” He said the government was all set to import 6,000 tonnes of oxygen, 5,000 cylinders and 20 cryogenic tanks in a bid to build the country’s capacity as the third Covid-19 wave rages on in the country. According to NCOC chief, it was this kind of “proactive decision making” that helped Pakistan “avoid the kind of scenes being witnessed in some other countries”. On Thursday, the NCOC had also decided to shut down the scrap industry of Misri Shah Lahore so that oxygen could be diverted to the healthcare sector instead.

The federal minister who also heads the NCOC, said that the need for following precautions and Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures was vital at this point in time and the next few weeks were critical. “No system can cope if we allow the disease to spread rapidly,” he added. “This is a 57 percent more than the peak in June 2020,” he said further and added so far this increase had been handled due to proactively building capacity of the entire system from oxygen production to beds. “Total oxygen production operational capacity in Pakistan last year was 487 tonnes per day. It has been increased to 798 tonnes,” said Umar. “We also imported 19,200 oxygen cylinders last year to ensure distribution,” he added.

The federal minister stated that the proactive decision-making had helped Pakistan avoid the kind of situation being witnessed in other countries. “[The] bedrock of this proactive decision-making has been a data-based forward-looking analytical approach, [a] nationally-coordinated effort with a whole of the nation approach and [the] hard work of dedicated teams who have continued to steer the effort through this difficult challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, 131 more people died of Coronavirus infection across the country during the last twenty-four hours.

According to the latest statistics shared by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Friday, 5,112 new positive cases were reported in the country after conducting the tests of 49,099 people during the same period. The country’s Covid-19 tally has jumped to 820,823. The positivity ratio remained 10.41 percent. The country’s death toll climbed to 17,811 after 131 more people succumbed to the deadly disease. Meanwhile, 3,272 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking total recoveries to 711,465. According to the NCOC, total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 91,547.

During the past 24 hours, Punjab reported 2,296 new Covid-19 cases and 83 more deaths. The 2,296 new cases took the provincial tally to 301,114 and with 83 more fatalities, the death toll reached 8,410.  At least 160 more people contracted the novel Coronavirus in Balochistan during the past 24 hours, taking the tally to 22,278. According to the officials, one more death during the past 24 hours pushed the provincial fatalities to 234. As many as 20,592 patients have recovered from the disease in the province so far. AJK reported 126 new Covid-19 cases and two deaths. The caseload of the region has reached 17,057 while the death toll stands at 475.

The government on Friday announced a number of steps to reduce mobility of the people during the forthcoming festival of Eid-ul-Fitr.

The step has been taken so as to arrest further spread of Covid-19 in the country. The Ministry of Interior announced the measures and guidelines titled ‘Stay Home-Stay Safe-Eid-ul-Fitr 2021 from 08-16 May 2021’.” It said an NCOC meeting reviewed the current spike of Covid-19 in the country and issued mobility control measures that would be in place from May 8-16 2021.

As far as transport is concerned, there will be complete ban in inter-provincial, inter-city and intra-city transport except private vehicles, taxi/rickshaw with 50 percent occupancy. There will also be a complete ban on tourism for both locals and foreigners, in the country. All markets, businesses and shops will remain closed except essential services. Pakistan has been coping with an increase in the number of cases and deaths. The measures will help restrain movement of the people especially during the Eid holidays.

From page 1

than June last year, when the country last witnessed a peak in the cases. He said Pakistan has so far managed to cope with the increase in critical care Covid-19 patients by proactively building the capacity of the entire system. In a series of tweets on Friday, he said that the total number of critical care patients who were being provided oxygen had reached 5,360 on Thursday. He, however, cautioned that the “challenge is not over and is in fact continuing to increase.” He said the government was all set to import 6,000 tonnes of oxygen, 5,000 cylinders and 20 cryogenic tanks in a bid to build the country’s capacity as the third Covid-19 wave rages on in the country. According to NCOC chief, it was this kind of “proactive decision making” that helped Pakistan “avoid the kind of scenes being witnessed in some other countries”. On Thursday, the NCOC had also decided to shut down the scrap industry of Misri Shah Lahore so that oxygen could be diverted to the healthcare sector instead.

The federal minister who also heads the NCOC, said that the need for following precautions and Covid-19 Standard Operating Procedures was vital at this point in time and the next few weeks were critical. “No system can cope if we allow the disease to spread rapidly,” he added. “This is a 57 percent more than the peak in June 2020,” he said further and added so far this increase had been handled due to proactively building capacity of the entire system from oxygen production to beds. “Total oxygen production operational capacity in Pakistan last year was 487 tonnes per day. It has been increased to 798 tonnes,” said Umar. “We also imported 19,200 oxygen cylinders last year to ensure distribution,” he added.

The federal minister stated that the proactive decision-making had helped Pakistan avoid the kind of situation being witnessed in other countries. “[The] bedrock of this proactive decision-making has been a data-based forward-looking analytical approach, [a] nationally-coordinated effort with a whole of the nation approach and [the] hard work of dedicated teams who have continued to steer the effort through this difficult challenge,” he said.

Meanwhile, 131 more people died of Coronavirus infection across the country during the last twenty-four hours.

According to the latest statistics shared by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Friday, 5,112 new positive cases were reported in the country after conducting the tests of 49,099 people during the same period. The country’s Covid-19 tally has jumped to 820,823. The positivity ratio remained 10.41 percent. The country’s death toll climbed to 17,811 after 131 more people succumbed to the deadly disease. Meanwhile, 3,272 patients recovered from the deadly disease in a day taking total recoveries to 711,465. According to the NCOC, total active Covid-19 cases across the country were reported to be 91,547.

During the past 24 hours, Punjab reported 2,296 new Covid-19 cases and 83 more deaths.