PMA fears increase in corona patients due to ineffective lockdown

MULTAN: The Pakistan Medical Association has warned of increase in number of corona patients in the coming days in the province due to ineffective lockdown.

Addressing a press conference at the Multan Press Club on Tuesday, PMA president Prof Dr Masood Haraj said that corona patients were increasing at dangerous levels across the province and the situation could enter a dangerous phase.

Prof Dr Masood Haraj said that corona patients had been increasing for the last week rapidly. The government should review her policies, he said. The numbers of corona patients were also increased in Multan and the south Punjab, which could be increased further in the coming days, he feared.

Prof Dr Masood Haraj also demanded the government provide Personal Protective Equipments in all hospitals without any pause. He said that the interviews of doctors had been done and lists sent to the Punjab government on April 4 but the government did not issue appointment orders against vacant posts after lapsing 24 days.

He said that the Nishtar Hospital was facing a serious shortage of doctors. He said that if doctors were not appointed timely, then isolation wards would face shortage of doctors next week. He said that the SOPs for testing and isolation of Pakistanis arriving from abroad were lacking. He demanded the district administration improve coordination with other departments to combat with corona in a serious way.

He demanded the government and the district administration take measures for effective lockdown. He also appealed to the people to strictly follow the Covid-19 SOPs to save the lives of their kids and elders.

PMA office-bearers, including Dr Rana Khawar, Dr Murtaza Baloch, Dr Amjad Bari, Dr Sheikh Abdul Khaliq, Dr Zulqarnain Haider, Dr Rana Athar and others were also present in the press conference.

Crackdown launched on shopkeepers: The Waste Management Company Tuesday launched a crackdown on shopkeepers involved in violation of Covid-19 precautionary measures.

The WMC enforcement wing also took action against cattle sheds in residential areas.

The enforcement raided a shop in Zakariya Town and imposed Rs 4,000 fine on the shopkeeper, who was not observing precautionary measures against coronavirus. Cattle shed owner Muhammad Ishaq was also fined Rs 4,000. The enforcement wing issued notices to 18 shopkeepers in Chungi No 1 area.