The Sindh government has once again announced new curbs to contain the outbreak of the contagious Delta variant of the virus by imposing lockdown mainly in Karachi due to the rising number of new infections.
The decision was taken in a meeting headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. The restrictions including the complete shutdown of shopping malls, businesses, and educational institutes, will continue till 8th August.
Smart lockdowns and travel restrictions have become the main solution in the country since last year. The lockdown is being imposed on and off to prevent the impending fourth wave of the pandemic.
The citizens of Pakistan have been on a roller coaster ride of lockdown since last year which affects several citizens badly because of the lockdown. Now, the main concern is that will the government’s strategy of imposing lockdown ease the increasing cases of the virus, or citizens and many other businesses will continue to suffer? Is there any other solution?
Fourth wave of coronavirus in Pakistan
Pakistan is currently experiencing a fourth wave of the coronavirus pandemic that has seen the number of infections as well as fatalities jump up steadily across the country but particularly in Karachi and Sindh, where the Sindh government recently mulled a complete lockdown.
According to the provincial health department, the rate of delta variant cases has increased from 23 percent in Karachi and more than 30 percent in the eastern district. In July, 362 patients died from the coronavirus.
What is Delta variant?
The Delta variant is another form of covid and it is already 50 percent more contagious than the original coronavirus first identified in China in 2019.
Public health experts estimate that the average person who gets infected with Delta spreads it to three or four other people, as compared with one or two other people through the original coronavirus strain.
As of early July, Delta has become the dominant form of the coronavirus in the US, UK, Germany, and other countries. In the UK, the Delta variant now makes up more than 97 percent of new COVID-19 cases and is also the dominant strain in the United States.
What are the most common symptoms of this variant?
Although, the symptoms are similar to the original coronavirus strain, including a persistent cough, headache, fever, and sore throat.
At the same time, COVID-19 patients have reported that some symptoms are slightly different for Delta. Cough and loss of smell seem to be less common. Headache, sore throat, runny nose, and fever seem to be more common.
What will be closed in lockdown?
The lockdown which will go into effect from tomorrow will be strictly imposed on government offices that will be closed from next week.
Those who do not get vaccinated will not get their salary after 31st August. Vaccination cards of anyone roaming the streets will be checked.
The Export industry will remain open and all markets in the province will remain closed, but pharmacies will stay open. Intercity transport will also be closed during the lockdown.
Is complete lockdown the only solution?
Closing down entire cities for weeks is not the solution of curbing the spread of the disease unless citizens do not follow SoPs.
Remember how several tourists flocked to the Kaghan valley of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Mansehra district this Eidul Azha, boosting covid cases? So a lockdown and jabbing covid vaccines is not a solution until people follow strictly SoPs and continue social distancing.
