Health authorities expect a 15-20 percent daily increase in cases of coronavirus over the weeks due to lightening restrictions. Pakistan has raised the number of daily tests to nearly twofold, leading to more confirmed cases.
The number of regular cases has gradually gone up one week after launch. The country has recorded a staggering 2,603 new positive cases from four provinces, the federal capital, and the AJK and GB regions over the last 24 hours. It was the worst-reported day since the February outbreak.
Director-General of the National Institute of Health ( NIH), Maj Gen Dr. Aamer Ikram, said that due to the government ‘s decision to relax the restrictions, the number of daily cases could increase by 15-20 percent.
The incubation period of the virus is between five and seven days so we have been expecting that the number of daily cases will increase as the interaction between people has increased. However, in the next weeks, we will be in a better position to ascertain the percentage of increase in the number of cases.
The country reported 51,653 cases of COVID-19 with 1,067 deaths linked to the virus as of Thursday. Thursday was thus the worst day since coronavirus emerged in the country.
When asked, Dr. Aamer Ikram said the government will be able to deal with it if the increase in infections is moderate and as expected (between 15-20 percent).
However, a further increase can be problematic and it may compel the government to reconsider its decision regarding the lifting of lockdown.
He urged people to take precautionary measures when engaging in markets, meeting with relatives and friends on Eid ‘s occasion, or at their workplaces later.
Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar has already warned that if citizens do not follow the safety guidelines the government will reconsider its decision to open businesses and industries.
