COVID-19 cases in Pakistan soared due to relaxation in lockdown: WHO

LAHORE (92 News) – The World Health Organization (WHO) has suggested two-week alternative strict and soften lockdown to mitigate coronavirus (COVID-19) in Pakistan. This suggestion was given by the WHO in its letter to the Punjab government. In its letter, the WHO has said that novel coronavirus has spread in all districts of Pakistan. “Cases have increased due to relaxation in lockdown. COVID-19 cases in big cities are in large numbers,” the letter stated. “Pakistan should take all precautionary measures including quarantine, isolation, social distancing and contact tracing. It is necessary for the country to increase its testing capacity by 50,000 per day,” the letter stated. “Pakistan must follow six conditions before ending lockdown which include complete control over pandemic, diagnosis of every single case, tests, isolation, treatment and tracing, and minimum hotspot risks,” it added. “Pakistan does not meet any of the aforementioned conditions at the moment and is among the list of top ten most affected countries. The WHO recommends Pakistan to observe lockdown for two weeks and give relaxation for two, it further explained.