Fourth Covid wave looms large over Pakistan, warns Asad

By News Desk

ISLAMABAD: Planning Minister Asad Umar has warned that a fourth wave of the coronavirus could emerge as early as July if precautionary measures are poorly enforced and urged Pakistanis to adhere to safety measures and get vaccinated.

“Reviewed the artificial intelligence based disease modelling analysis today in NCOC. In the absence of strong SOP enforcement and continued strong vaccination program, the fourth wave could emerge in Pakistan in July. Please adhere to SOP’s and vaccinate as soon as possible,” Asad tweeted on Friday.

His warning came as the country’s number of fully vaccinated people were over 2.7 million, while the number of people who were partially vaccinated were 11.4 million. Pakistan’s vaccine efforts hit a road block last week over acute shortages, after which the NCOC revised the schedule of the second vaccine dose. Since then, the country has flown in several million doses of vaccines from China to continue the mass vaccination drive. The country on Friday registered 44 Covid-linked deaths, and 1,052 more cases in a 24-hour-period. Active infections in Pakistan stood at 32,921. Of the active cases, 2,262 patients admitted, 267 of whom are on ventilators.

Ventilators occupancy was highest in Multan 28 per cent, Bahawalpur 22 per cent, Islamabad 21 per cent and Lahore 20 per cent.

Oxygen beds occupancy was highest in Gilgit 45 per cent, Karachi 23 per cent, Muzaffarabad 19 per cent and Rawalpindi 17 per cent. As of Friday, 952,907 cases were detected so far while the deaths 22,152 deaths.