Opening up

As Pakistan's positivity rate falls to 1.78 percent countrywide, the NCOC at a meeting on Monday further relaxed restrictions covering most sectors in the country. But it has imposed checks on activities based largely on vaccinated people and they will be allowed greater freedoms than those who are unvaccinated. This is a sensible policy in terms of safety, although there should also be a reminder to those who have received both doses of the vaccine or a single dose vaccine that even after vaccination it is possible to acquire Covid-19, though its effects are not as lethal. This should mean the wearing of masks in indoor settings and the usual precautions such as social distancing. These are the guidelines that are being followed in other countries. We can also hope that the new guidelines laid out by the NCOC will encourage people to get vaccinated as quickly as possible and speed up what is a slow vaccination drive in the country, with only 1.6 percent of the population fully vaccinated. Pakistan at present is reporting a large stock of vaccines and it is essential that these be used and that people go in for vaccination. In this context, educating people from less privileged backgrounds on how to use the online registration process or even the process on their phones is essential. Many people have difficulty simply complying with the 1166 requirement of sending in the CNIC number and having a vaccine centre allocated. This matter needs to be looked at as do people who do not own CNIC cards.

The relaxation in restrictions allows indoor and outdoor dining till 12am each night. However, indoor dining will be permitted only to those who are vaccinated, and staff would be authorised and taught to check on vaccination certification. In the same way, staff themselves would need to be vaccinated. Gyms too are open only to those who are vaccinated as are indoor marriages, with a limit of 200 people at a single gathering. These restrictions are in many ways sensible and geared towards getting as many people vaccinated as possible, as quickly as possible. Loopholes may arise with staff at various enterprises initially struggling to cope with the vaccination demand. However, the reopening of markets up till 10pm each night and other privileges given to people act as a carrot with the vaccination perhaps acting as a stick, given that so many people are still hesitant to receive the vaccine.

There are also some other matters that need to be sorted out. For the moment, though, Pakistan should also be proud of how it has dealt with its Covid crisis with over 900,000 people now recovered from the disease. But caution is still necessary. And we should remember that unless SOPs are followed, and unless greater vaccination is ensured leading to herd immunity, the next wave could lie just around the corner.