Asad calls for transition from lockdowns to tests to curb virus

ISLAMABAD: The Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives, Asad Umar, stressed on Monday a transition from total lockdown to a strategy of testing, tracing and quarantining was needed to return to normalcy, as the National Coordination Committee (NCC) is set to decide on extending lockdown today (Tuesday).

“If we shut everything down to stop coronavirus we will never be able to get back on our feet. This is exactly why we need a strategy of testing, tracing and quarantining, said Umar at a news briefing on coronavirus alongside Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza.

Umar said the countries that employed a similar strategy were now on the verge of reopening their economies. Elaborating on what he meant by testing, tracing and quarantining, the minister explained the government would first aim to conduct mass testing followed by constituting a system of extensive contact tracing whereby infected patients and all those who came in contact with them were quarantined. He argued by following that strategy the government would be able to reopen essential sectors of the economy which in turn would make the transition to complete normalcy smoother.

The minister also announced another session of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) would take place on Tuesday (today) to decide future course of action. He said the government’s strategy from day one had been to bring all the provinces and stakeholders on board before taking decisions.

He urged business community to protect their workers from Covid-19. He said the government might introduce legislation making it compulsory for businesses to protect their employees from the disease.

Meanwhile, the NCC on Monday reviewed progress about controlling the spread of Covid-19 in the country and discussed the strategy to minimise the impact of the challenge. During the meeting, chief ministers presented proposals regarding lockdown.

The federal and provincial governments agreed to announce a unified policy on the lockdown. National Command and Control Operation Centre also presented its suggestions in the meeting in light of the overall situation in the country.

On the other hand, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, who took part in the NCC meeting through video link, called for extending nationwide lockdown by another 14 days. He said the federal government should give a clear stance regarding future policies.—Agencies/News Desk