Authorities to impose locality-based lockdowns as the country sees one among the world's fastest rates of infections.
Islamabad, Pakistan - Pakistan's government has identified 500 coronavirus hotspots across the country to be targeted in its "smart lockdown" strategy, consistent with the country's top health official.
Zafar Mirza, the prime minister's special adviser on health and head of the federal health ministry, told legislators at an appointment on Monday that these areas would be targeted for limited locality-based lockdowns - which the govt has dubbed "smart lockdowns" - to regulate the spread of the coronavirus.
"Due to the present economic situation, it's impossible to implement complete lockdown within the country. However, the govt [is] that specialize in smart lockdown policy," a press release released after the meeting said.
Pakistan has emerged together of the countries with the fastest rate of coronavirus infections in recent weeks, consistent with the planet Health Organization (WHO).
On Monday, countrywide cases rose by 3,946, taking the general tally to 185,034 since the country's outbreak began in late February, consistent with government data.
At least 105 patients died on Monday, consistent with the info, taking the price to three,766.
Pakistan, like many South Asian countries, has seen a lower observed death rate from the coronavirus than Europe and other countries that are hard-hit by the virus.
As of Monday, the country's case death rate stood at 2 percent, compared with a worldwide average of 5.25 percent.
Lack of healthcare facilities
On Monday, Pakistan saw a decrease in testing, with 24,599 tests administered countrywide, a discount of roughly 6,000 from the previous day, consistent with government data.The WHO has involved Pakistan, a rustic of 220 million, to conduct a minimum of 50,000 tests daily to measure the true prevalence of the virus.
The country's rickety health infrastructure has been faltering under the pressure of a surge in cases since the govt lifted most restrictions on public gatherings and businesses last month.
On Monday, health adviser Mirza said 1,000 more ventilators were due by the top of the month to extend Pakistan's infrastructure capacity.
There are 3,001 ventilators countrywide, of which 1,503 are currently allocated for COVID-19 patients. consistent with government data, 37 percent of the allocated capacity of ventilators is in use by critically ill patients.
Hospitals in major cities, however, have already begun to report acute critical-care shortages, forcing them to even shy away from patients.
On Monday, Prime Minister Imran Khan said he had opposed the strategy of imposing a widescale lockdown to contain the virus from the start, arguing that the country's economy couldn't afford it.
After weeks of a strict lockdown, Khan's government eased most of the restrictions in late May, allowing the reopening of business and shops and placing the responsibility of following physical distancing and hygiene guidelines on citizens.
"This coming month may be a difficult month, but we'll impose smart lockdowns [...] and therefore the biggest a part of the smart lockdown is that those people whose lives are in peril due to this illness, people that are elderly or those with other illnesses," said Khan at a charity event on Monday.
"We need to confirm the lockdown is for them. they have to require extra care. If we will save these people, then the effect of corona[virus] won't be as bad as we've seen in other countries of the planet ."
Pakistan's government has thus far distributed 135 billion Pakistani rupees ($818m) in cash grants to low-income families to supply aid during the pandemic, benefitting an estimated 11.2 million citizens, consistent with the government's data.
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