India defies toll, unlocks; rise in Pakistan cases chokes hospitals

Resmi Sivaram / Tariq Butt / AFP

India launched Unlock 1 on Monday, ending nearly 70 days of a national lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic, even as the national total of infected people rose by 9,983 as of Monday morning, hitting 256,611.

In the capital, Delhi, shopping malls, restaurants, temples and mosques reopened for the first time since March 25, despite a record daily rise in new cases and predictions that the epidemic will worsen for weeks to come.

Pakistan has recorded more than 100,000 cases of coronavirus, health authorities said Monday, as hospitals warned they are running out of beds to treat patients. Official statistics released on Monday showed 103,671 infections and 2,067 deaths from the virus. Record numbers of new infections over the last 10 days partly reflect increased testing.

Pakistan — and neighbours India and Afghanistan — have lagged behind Western nations in virus tolls, but experts warn a lack of testing or accurate reporting in rural areas could be hiding true figures.

Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday said he expected the virus to peak “towards the end of July, followed by a gradual downslide.”

According to the Indian health ministry’s figures, there had been 7,135 deaths. Active cases are 1,25,381, while 1,24,094 were cured /discharged.

Places of worship including temples, churches, mosques and Gurdwaras reopened across India on Monday as part of Unlock 1. They will have to strictly adhere to the guidelines laid down by the Centre, including following social distancing norms.

“We already know that the virus will spread, the trend that our experts have observed is that it spreads, then peaks and then the curve flattens. And the purpose behind flattening the curve is to reduce pressure on hospitals,” Imran said during a televised speech.

“Today, I’m here to tell you that if we follow standard operating procedures and take precautionary measures, we can manage the pandemic. Our cases are expected to peak by the end of July or August, and then transmission will reduce. So, today I appeal to you, not for me, for you: Please take precautions for your loved ones, for the elderly and for those who have other ailments.”

Delhi will not allow hotels to reopen because it said it might need to convert them into temporary hospitals if there is a big jump in cases.

In Mumbai a few offices opened and in the suburbs there were long queues at bus stops as commuter trains have not yet opened.

In Delhi, meanwhile, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has isolated himself after developing mild fever and sore throat, a spokesperson of his Aam Aadmi Party said. Kejriwal is also likely to undergo the COVID-19 test on Tuesday, he added. Delhi’s Health Minister Satyendra Jain blamed the Centre for forcing the state to reserve hospital facilities for Delhiites only. Jain said, “If Centre would’ve stopped international flights in time, situation could’ve been better. Given the rising number of cases, hospitals are needed for Delhiites. In any case, neighbouring states say they have less number of cases, so it shouldn’t be an issue.” The Centre, meanwhile, defended the timing of the imposition of the lockdown and rejected as “baseless” media reports expressing concern that it did not take inputs from technical experts while drawing up its COVID-19 strategy.

Doctors at several main hospitals in the historic eastern city. Lahore, told AFP they were running out of beds, ventilators and other vital equipment.

“As the cases increase, more health care workers are also falling victim to the virus,” said Farooq Sahil, a doctor at Services Hospital Lahore.

In the southern port city of Karachi, health centres are turning away the sick, with a large sign near the entrance of the Indus hospital stating there was no room for coronavirus patients.

Asad Umar, who heads the national coronavirus task force, announced that a package to relieve pressure on hospitals would include 1,000 new beds in major cities.

“The crisis is unfolding now as we have ceased to observe isolation,” said Sikander Ali Memon, who is leading Sindh province’s anti-virus efforts. LOCKDOWNS AVERTED DEATHS: Lockdowns prevented around 3.1 million deaths in 11 European countries, according to a new modelling study published on Monday, as most nations tiptoe out of the strict measures to halt the spread of the new coronavirus.

Research by Imperial College London, whose scientists are advising the British government on the virus, found that restrictions such as stay-at-home orders had worked to bring the epidemic under control.

Using European Centre of Disease Control data on deaths in 11 nations in the period up to May 4, they compared the number of observed deaths in the countries against those predicted by their model if no restrictions had been imposed.

They estimated that approximately 3.1 million deaths had been averted by the policies.