ISLAMABAD: Ringing alarm bells, Planning Minister and chief of National Command and Control Center (NCOC) Asad Umar warned that the number of virus cases could jump to 300,000 by end of this month if violation of standard operating procedure continues by the citizens.
Speaking at a presser here, the federal minister further warned that if the current situation remained unchanged then the number of coronavirus cases might reach one million by July end in the country.
However, he said that the situation could be brought under the control by following the safety guidelines.
Umar said that the federal government would add 2,150 oxygen beds by the end of this month. Of them, Sindh and Punjab will get 5,000 each while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa will receive 4,000. 2,000 oxygen beds will be provided to Balochistan and 150 to Islamabad.
The NCOC chief said that 30,000 tests are being conducted daily for the last couple of days in the country. The existing daily testing capacity will be enhanced to 150,000 in the next few days, he added.
Earlier this month, National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) chief and Minister for Planning Asad Umar had said that the coronavirus was not that lethal in Pakistan as it was in the Europe and other countries.
He said that the nations could be confined to indoors for months or years. Safety measures are the most effective weapon to limit the spread of a pandemic. Those ignoring the precautionary measures are putting their lives as well as the others’ at risk.
Umar added that the virus was not as lethal in the country as it had been in the Europe and other countries.
There has been no change to our basic strategy, which is focusing on to limit the spread of virus, the NCOC chief said.
He said that Pakistan not only manufacturing most of the safety equipment but also exporting them to other countries.
