Dr Faisal sees weather, living conditions as main causes of virus uptick

PM’s aide on health warns of strict measures if people continue to violate SOPs

ISLAMABAD:

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan on Saturday said that the main reasons for the deteriorating situation of Covid-19 in different major cities were factors such as weather and living conditions.

"If the people were careful, the war against Covid-19 could be won quickly, otherwise the government would be forced to take tough decisions," he said.

He said following the standard operation procedures (SOPs) were essential to curtail the spread of Covid-19.

Talking to a private news channel, he said that rising daily deaths ratio was a matter of concern and if the implementation of SOPs was not ensured, the situation could be worse.

“I am satisfied with the steps taken by the government but I appeal to the people to understand the gravity of the situation”, he added.

According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 2,972 more people tested positive for the deadly virus during the last 24 hours.

It said that 83 coronavirus patients succumbed to the deadly disease, 74 of whom were under treatment in hospitals and nine in their respective homes or quarantines.

During the last 24 hours, most of the deaths had occurred in Sindh followed by Punjab.

It added that out of the total 83 deaths during the last 24 hours, 51 patients died on ventilators.