Week 35 - Concern over rising case numbers spreads in Pakistan

 Edited BY

G P Kennedy

Tassy - Karachi, Pakistan

 

As cases continue to soar, and the Chief Minister of Sindh (the province in which Karachi is situated) tested positive for the virus, more stringent regulations were imposed nationwide by the Government.

This included a ban on indoor dining, restaurants to close by 10 pm, shops to shut at 6 pm, and no shops to remain open on the weekends. Educational institutions were again closed down, as almost 20% of Covid cases were found there. Gyms were also shut down. I am beginning to feel a sense of déjà vu. 

The Pakistan Medical Association said that the virus is more lethal now in this second wave. The positivity rate (the number of patients that test positive after doing a Covid test) is now 20 percent, from 8 percent last week.

The cooler weather is also not helping the situation.  I have a number of friends who are down with seasonal flu. These days even a sniffle or a slight cough is enough to get anyone running to get themselves tested. 

 Every day I am hearing of at least 5 people who I know who are testing positive for the virus. Doctor friends working in hospitals have told me that hospitals are overflowing with Covid patients.

Many have resorted to seeing Covid patients in ambulances as there is simply no more space available. The Expo center in Karachi that had been converted into a massive Covid ward, is also full.





A leading cleric and head of a fundamentalist party in the country died last week.  What was absolutely shocking was to see the turnout of tens of thousands of people if not more, for his funeral prayers in the historic city of Lahore. The funeral prayers and public gathering was recorded as the biggest ever in the history of the city. This was shocking on two accounts for me. 

 Firstly the fact that people had absolutely no regard for safety under times of Coronavirus to attend closely packed public gatherings in the thousands!

Secondly, it made me realize the kind support he must have had to get a turnout like that. To me, this symbolized the state of the country and where it could be heading. The Prime Minister ruled out further permissions for rallies by any opposition party, but I think this has come about a little too late.

 My 79-year-old father continues seeing his poker buddies once a week, and my 86 year old mother in law continues to play cards with her girlfriends once a week and meets her Scrabble group regularly. I am a little alarmed by this but they know the risks and say that that social interaction is as important for their mental well-being as protecting themselves from Covid.

On a more personal front, I imposed a strict policy of only taking those yoga clients who were willing to wear masks during their private class.

Since September I had become a little lax as cases had come down substantially in the country I did get a few cancellations as a result. Some agreed to wear masks and a handful decided to go back to virtual classes. 

As an added measure I am toying with the idea of canceling all my yoga classes for the month of December, as an additional safety precaution.

The one factor that has kept everyone cheerful despite gloom on the virus front, has been the wonderful weather we are experiencing here at this time of the year.

Some areas in Northern Pakistan have already received their first snowfall. There is a lovely chill in the air. Flowers are blooming. I have finally put away my cottons and have got my winter wear out. Let’s hope the next week goes off smoothly.