A worker sprays disinfectant in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Photo: AP Photo/Muhammad Sajjad A Pakistan Catholic figure says the easing of coronavirus restrictions by the country’s leader is a “risky move”.
Despite a record spike of new cases in a single day (1,523), Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan last week announced the lifting of the nationwide lockdown.
Fr Saleh Diego, vicar general of the Archdiocese of Karachi, hopes that the government’s decision would not jeopardise the efforts made to contain the virus.
“The government is obviously more concerned about the plight of daily wagers and other low-income groups,” he said.
“But it should keep in mind that this can turn out to be a risky move in view of the virus situation.
“The government should at least have issued strict guidelines such as mandatory wearing of face masks and enforcement of Standard Operating Procedures regarding social distancing in offices, workplaces and factories.”
Fr Diego expressed his concerns about workers traveling from one place to another while public transport is unavailable.
“If the government has decided to reopen businesses, it should have allowed public transport with certain conditions,” he added.
“Mandatory thermal scanning before entering or exiting a workplace should also be considered.”