Covid numbers will surpass hospital capacity if SOPs not followed: PM

THURSDAY: Prime Minister Imran Khan said Thursday after National Coordination Committee (NCC) session if caution is not exercised duly the number of COVID patients will surpass hospital capacity in Pakistan, ARY News reported.

After Multan jalsa by opposition, the Prime Minister said, 64 per cent beds have already been occupied, underlining the need for discipline in following COVID Standard Operating Procedures such as wearing masks and keeping social distance.

The more people gather together the more they are likely to spread COVID, said Khan, elaborating that especially in the winter season, people assembling indoors are more susceptible to contract the viral infection due to closed atmosphere.

He noted about 40 per cent of COVID patients are receiving treatments in hospitals, fearing that if the numbers increase, hospitals will soon be out of capacity and compared the situation with developed countries of Europe and America where in spite of resources the pandemic caused crises.

On the Pakistan Democratic Movement rallies against his government, the PM said these least bothered him but were becoming superspreaders and posing risks to masses.

They can postpone their political gatherings for two- to three months, PM Khan said adding that COVID is raging on exhausting hospital beds and affecting healthcare workers.

READ: COVID-19 claims 56 more lives in Pakistan

It is pertinent to note that Pakistan has recorded 56 deaths and 3,138 new cases due to the COVID-19 in the last 24 hours.

In the past 24 hours, 56 more people succumbed to the disease, taking the death toll to 8,603. 2,030 patients have recovered from the virus during the last 24 hours and 2,575 patients are in critical condition including 77 more declared critical.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), with fresh inclusion of the infections in the country the national tally of cases now currently stands at 429,280.