Smart lockdown in Pakistan, a solution to fight COVID-19

Pakistan has 157,824 cases. Surveyauto.com has developed a system to identify outbreaks, which is helping to lock down only affected areas rather than the whole country.

Karachi (AsiaNews) – The coronavirus is spreading quickly in Pakistan. Local authorities have reported so far 157,824 cases with 136 new deaths on Wednesday, breaking the previous record of deaths in a single day.

About 58,239 cases have been reported in Punjab, 59,983 in Sindh, 19,613 in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, 8,794 in Balochistan, 1,213 in Gilgit-Baltistan, 9,242 in Islamabad, and 740 in Azad Jammu and Kashmir.

According to health experts, this is the result of easing the extended lockdown late last month. They had warned that the country’s fragile health system could soon fail if the number kept rising at the current rate.

Planning Development Minister Asad Umar, who is in charge of the country’s anti-coronavirus strategy, warned that the number of cases could top one million by the end of July if the current rate continues.

The World Health Organisation told Pakistan that a strict two-week lockdown across the country could control the spread of the virus. But Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan said that a “smart lockdown" was the only possible option under current circumstances.

At present, the situation remains fluid. Pakistan’s provinces have decided to implement a smart lockdown in high-risk areas.

In a letter made public yesterday, the city commissioner of Karachi said that following recommendations by the Health Department, the Sindh government and the deputy commissioner of Karachi Division regarding new COVID-19 outbreaks, he ordered a complete lockdown starting 7 pm, today (18 June) until 2 July.

Karachi’s commissioner also indicated that standard operating procedures (SOP) would be applied; thus, anyone entering or living in the locked down area must wear a mask. Movements by local residents will be restricted.

Only grocery shops, convenience stores and pharmacies will be allowed to remain open; other business and industrial activities must remain strictly closed. Home delivery and take away of any kind from restaurants and fast food joints are banned.

Under the SOPs, only one person per household can go out to buy food or medicines and must show their Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) to law enforcement agencies.

During this period, family gatherings or motorbike trips are not allowed and public transport – including buses, taxis, auto rickshaws, Uber, Creem and Airlifts – cannot operate in the locked down areas.

Karachi’s commissioner also said that the government will make every effort to provide food for people in need in the affected areas through voluntary organisations and using its own resources.

He added that the government will also make every effort to provide mobile dispensaries and mobile utility shops in these areas.

Meanwhile, the Government of Pakistan has asked Dr Umar Saif, CEO of Surveyauto.com and chief digital officer of the Jang/Geo Media Group, to come up with a technological system to formulate strategies to control the situation.

To this end, Surveyauto.com has developed a system to identify viral outbreaks, so that only selected areas need to be locked down and not the entire country.

• pakistan
• karachi
• pandemic
• coronavirus
• covid-19
• outbreaks
• smart lockdown