Karachi: The Provincial Task Force on Coronavirus Sindh on Saturday decided to reopen educational, business and social activities all over the province from September 15, as was proposed by NCC, but the provincial government, once again review the situation in the first week of next month to go ahead with the plan.
The meeting was held here today with Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah in the chair. The meeting was attended by Provincial ministers, Dr Azra Pechuho, Saeed Ghani, Mukesh Chawla, Nasir Shah and Murtaza Wahab, Mayor Karachi Waseem Akhtar, Chief Secretary Mumtaz Shah, IG Sindh Mushtaq Maher, PSCM Sajid Jamal Abro, ACS Home Usman Chachar, Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shahalwani, Secretary Health Kazim Jatoi, Deputy DG Rangers, Brigadier Hussain Masud of Corps-5, Commander Rizwan of Pak Navy, Dr Aziz, Dr Faisal, Mushtaq Chhapra, Ayaz Soomro of UNICEF, Dr Sara of WHO and others.
At the outset of the meeting, the chief minister said that just after CCI meeting, the prime minister had chaired NCC meeting in Islamabad on August 6 in which it was decided to reopen all business activities, including education institutions and others from September 15. However, it was decided that the provincial governments would review the situation in their task force meetings to take final decisions.
COVID-19: Minister Health Dr Azra Pechuho told the meeting that the Coronavirus situation has improved. The number of new cases has started declining. At this, the CM said that during the last 30 days, cases had dropped significantly. He added that on July 8, 1,782 new cases were reported and on every successive day the number went dropping and finally on August 7, 2020, 487 new cases were reported. “This doesn’t mean that coronavirus has been eliminated or contained but it teaches us that the virus still exists and we have to learn how to live with it until its vaccine is prepared,” he said.
The chief minister decided that the COVID-19 hospitals established at NIPA and University Road would continue to function but they would be strengthened further, however, he directed minister health to review the requirement of Field Isolation Center at Expo Center. “If you want to continue with the facilities, please go ahead; otherwise, it may be wound up and its equipment may be shifted where they are required,” he said. The chief minister sought the opinion of leading doctors in the meeting about opening of the social, educational and business activities and they supported opening them but under strict SOPs.
Policy decision: The chief minister taking a policy decision said that the business activities would be allowed to function upto 9 pm while the restaurants would be allowed to operate upto 9 pm. “This may be enhanced on weekends,” he said and added that they have to change our behaviours by starting day early in the morning and ending latest by 10 pm.