Authorities concerned as Covid-19 cases, deaths increase in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The government and its departments have expressed concern over violation of lockdown that is causing increase in number of Covid-19 cases and the ratio of people dying due to the virus in the provincial capital and other parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The death ratio in the provincial capital once reached 10.19 percent and is currently touching 10 percent, which is higher than any city of country. Though the number of positive cases in KP is less than other provinces, the death ratio in the province is high. “The government, administration and police have been trying to find ways to stop people coming out of home and gather in large numbers. The people are not ready to stay home,” an official told The News. He added that situation was alarming in Peshawar where the number of positive cases was increasing while the death rate was an alarmingly high 10 percent. “There is now serious need to involve those who have influence in their areas to convince people that the situation is alarming. Many misconceptions also need to be removed as majority of the illiterate people are yet to be convinced that it is a serious situation and they can protect themselves and families only by staying home and washing hands,” the official argued. Many are spreading various conspiracy theories and rumours instead of taking precautionary measures and following the instructions issued by the government. As per the statistics on April 22, as many as 431 positive cases were confirmed in Peshawar out of 1,453 in the whole province. The number of those who died due to Covid-19 was 83 in KP. Out of these, 37 people died in Peshawar with a ratio of around 9.1 percent.

After Peshawar, the number of positive cases and deaths in Swat and Mardan are quite high. As many as 113 positive cases and deaths of 11 people have been reported from Swat while six people have died and 121 positive cases reported in Mardan. The number of cases and deaths are also increasing in other parts of the province.

“The officials of the district administration and the police are exhausted. Some officials have been openly expressing at various forums including social media that things are going out of control as public is not cooperating by staying home or following the principles of social distancing at markets, streets, mosques and other places,” said a source.

Police had to fire shots into the air on Ashraf Road the other day when a group of people violating the lockdown tried to manhandle a cop. Another policeman had to open fire on a cab when the driver did not stop.

“Policemen and officials of administration are finding it hard to politely stop people from coming out of homes. Besides, the majority is not wearing facemasks to minimize the threat of coronavirus,” said the source.Some of the mosques in the city are following the principles of social distancing but many are offering prayers like the normal days.

The mosques in University Road, Saddar and Hayatabad and in the old city have made arrangements so people stay at least three to six feet away from each other to prevent the spread of the virus.Prime Minister Imran Khan and other officials have said on a number of occasions that the government will have to reconsider allowing congregational prayers in mosques if the people did not follow the social distancing as decided in a meeting of Ulema with President Arif Alvi.