Coronavirus outbreak: PM to personally monitor SOP adherence, violators to be 'locked up'

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday vowed to ramp up punitive measures for violators of safety protocols enforced to safeguard against the coronavirus, saying they will be "locked up".

"I will review the whole country's situation with regard to standard operating procedures from PM's office," said the premier.

"I have reports from Punjab and Sindh about adherence to SOPs. I know about mosques, courts, public offices, parks, industries, shopping malls, shops, local transport and inter-city travel and private transport.

"I will get a daily report," he said, issuing a stark warning to those flouting the rules.

The premier said he will take action based on this report. Addressing managers and owners of businesses and transport, he said: "Whomever is found not abiding by the SOPs will be shut down — shops, malls, factories and even neighbourhoods found violating the rules will be cordoned off."

He said the Tiger Force will assist the administration to ensure implementation of SOPs.

"The government was not dealing with it as strictly before because we were gathering data," said PM Imran. "But now I will ensure the full force of the law with my administration's assistance."

He regretted people were demonstrating a very lackadaisical attitude.

"People say we have not seen any corona. We do not know of anyone dying from corona," he said, quoting such people.

The premier said this is "a very dangerous mindset". "Coronavirus cases will only increase and the peak is next month."

The premier said it is a national "duty" to abide by the safety rules, with a view to saving lives and he is placing his stock in people to follow SOPs.

Country was 'saved' due to 'smart lockdown'

PM Imran spoke at great length about India where a complete curfew was imposed and how the economy is now reeling from the after-effects.

"Today a survey has been released by experts of University of Pennsylvania, University of Chicago and an organisation CMI which has been monitoring the Indian economy," said the premier.

He said that owing to a sudden sweeping curfew there, the survey has revealed that 84% households were impacted. "But that is not the worst of it all. 34% households today are in a state where if they are not helped out, they will not be able to sustain themselves after two more weeks," the premier said.

Around 30 million people aged 20-30 have been rendered jobless, he said, quoting the survey. "However, the elite remained unaffected. A thing I have been saying since day one."

"I was saying since day one. We need to think of the slum dwellers, the poorest among us," said the premier.

He said Pakistan was "saved because we did not impose a complete lockdown".

"We quickly opened up construction and kept away from restrictions on agriculture. And the other thing was  — and I am very proud — the way we distributed cash, about Rs120 billion to around 12 billion families [...] so we are not as badly hit as India," PM Imran said.

The premier warned that in the coming days, the "deaths will unfortunately rise".

"The graph always goes up before it comes down," he said, adding: "The graph is on an upward trajectory right now."

He said he is "placing his hopes in people". "It is a difficult time but nations who band together together to combat this will stay afloat as compared to those who do not care for SOPs."

Addressing the proponents of a lockdown like India's he said not only were the lower segments of society "crushed", but there is "no room in New Delhi and Mumbai hospitals".

He said India has now reached the conclusion it can no longer afford to have a lockdown in place. "They are easing the lockdown. They are arriving at the same point where me and my team were saying since day one that a complete lockdown is not the answer. The solution is a smart lockdown."

PM Imran said with "intelligent" means, the economy must be kept going and a track and trace mechanism should be deployed to only lockdown select areas where the virus is rapidly spreading.

Special package for health workers

The prime minister said a lot of questions are often raised about what Pakistan has actually done with regard to its response to the outbreak since March.

Recapping some of the government's achievements, he said that initially there were only two testing labs available in the country, whereas now there are 107.

Testing capacity has also risen. Initially there was a capacity for only 500 tests, whereas now 25,000 tests can be conducted in four hours.

"Testing capacity now stands at 1.2 million," he said, going on to clarify that the number is reflective of monthly testing capacity.

Speaking of ventilators, he said Pakistan first had 2,800 and now has 4,800, with a further 1,400 ordered. He said it must be kept in mind that there is a global shortage in ventilator supplies.

"Pakistan is also making ventilators but they are currently being tested for use," he added.

The premier said that beds in intensive care units had doubled from 600 to 1,300. He explained that more have not been able to be developed because "specialised training" of staff is required and the numbers are currently lacking.

"We are, however, training staff via crash courses," he said.

PM Imran also said the government plans to increase the number of "oxygen beds" by 2,000. About 1,000 will be ready by June and the rest by July, he said.