London’s Imperial College estimates that COVID-19 pandemic in Pakistan is “on course to fade out”, a testimony to Prime Minister Imran Khan’s government’s effective handling of the ongoing global health crisis. At just 0.74, the effective coronavirus reproduction rate (Rt) in Pakistan is among the lowest in the world. An Rt of less than 1 indicates each infected person is infecting fewer than one person. Only Italy (0.63), Netherlands (0.62), Canada (0.50), and Spain (0.02) have lower reproduction rates than Pakistan’s. However, this is no time to relax. Pakistanis need to continue to take all precautions, including wearing face masks, to ensure that COVID-19 fades out in the country.
Pakistan’s coronavirus transmission rate is lowest in its region. Neighboring India’s Rt is 1.14, Iran’s 1.12, Bangladesh 0.96, and Afghanistan’s 0.93 are all significantly higher than Pakistan’s 0.74.
The latest numbers vindicate Pakistan government’s “smart lockdown” strategy of requiring face masks and selective lockdowns of hotspots. Pakistan’s strategy has been aimed at balancing lives and livelihoods in the middle of a deadly pandemic that has infected more than 11 million people globally and claimed over 4,500 lives in Pakistan and more than half a million lives around the world. Developed western nations, particularly the US and UK, have been among the worst affected by it.
Weekly COVID-19 deaths in Pakistan have declined to 577 this week from 869 last week. To put it perspective, about 4,000 Pakistanis died every day from various causes before the current pandemic.
The number of people testing positive for coronavirus in Pakistan has declined to 1 in 6.36 (15.7%) from the peak of 1 in 4.47 (22.3%) on June 4, 2020.
From the beginning of the pandemic, Pakistan’s strategy has been aimed at balancing lives and livelihoods. The latest numbers vindicate Pakistan government’s “smart lockdown” strategy of requiring face masks and selective lockdowns of hotspots. However, this is no time to relax. Pakistanis need to continue to take all precautions, including wearing face masks, to ensure that COVID-19 fades out in the country.
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Contributed by Riaz Haq (Author’s Bio: I am the Founder and President of PakAlumni Worldwide, a global social network for Pakistanis, South Asians and their friends. I also served as Chairman of the NEDians Convention 2007. In addition to being a South Asia watcher, an investor, business consultant and avid follower of the world financial markets, I have more than 25 years of experience in the hi-tech industry. I have been on the faculties of Rutgers University and NED Engineering University and cofounded two high-tech startups, Cautella, Inc. and DynArray Corp and managed multi-million dollar P&Ls. I am a pioneer of the PC and mobile businesses and I have held senior management positions in hardware and software development of Intel’s microprocessor product line from 8086 to Pentium processors. My experience includes senior roles in marketing, engineering and business management. I was recognized as “Person of the Year” by PC Magazine for my contribution to 80386 program. I have an MS degree in Electrical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology. www.pakalumni.com http://www.riazhaq.com http://southasiainvestor.blogspot.com)
