Addressing the nation in a televised address on Tuesday night, the premier said: “We as a nation need to win this war against coronavirus”.
He asked the people to adopt five precautionary measures to overcome the highly contagious disease.
He said everyone must avoid gatherings of more than 40 people, specially those behind closed doors.Handshaking must also be avoided as the contagion can easily spread through physical contact.The prime minister advised those arriving from abroad to go in a 14-day self-quarantine.
In a bid to lessen burden on healthcare staff, only those with severe symptoms should visit hospitals for coronavirus testing as every flu and cough is not COVID-19, said PM Imran.
There are a total of 237 confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan as of now, and the country has witnessed a rapid increased in the number of infected over the last 36 hours.
Overall, Sindh has 172 confirmed cases while Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa has 16, Balochistan 16, Islamabad four, Gilgit-Baltistan three, Punjab 26 and Azad Jammu and Kashmir has reported none till now.
Briefing the public over precautionary measures being taken by the government, PM Imran said that up to 900,000 people have been screened at airports thus far.
In case the virus further spreads, we need more medical equipment, said the PM, adding the country had enough facemasks but more ventilators would be required. For that the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has already ordered additional ventilators from abroad."Our economic situation is very fragile," he said. "If we close down the country, what will happen to the poor? People will die of hunger here," he said.
Economic team to monitor inflation
The prime minister said that an economic committee will determine how the government can cope with the coronavirus situation. PM Imran said that he feared food prices will once again rise as profiteers and hoarders will once again resume illicit activities.
Nearly all the “industries across the world are collapsing, Pakistan will also have to face severe problems,” he said.
“First it will affect our exporters as our exports had recently increased, our textile industry is running at full capacity,” he said.
“Business will get affected. The economic committee will monitor which areas are being affected and how the government can help them, they will keep a check on inflation,” he said.
He warned hoarders that the government would take stern action against them and that he would use full force to bring them to justice.
He said that the virus was spreading in countries and the government was studying responses of other governments and how they were acting to eliminate the pandemic.
'Govt alone cannot tackle coronavirus'
Join hands to battle coronavirus as no government, including American and China were able to tackle it alone, it is because of joint efforts that they are surviving, he said.
He urged people to keep away from large gatherings and avoid shaking hands.
PM Imran advised the nation to not panic and said that every person should not get himself/herself tested based on only mild flu symptoms.
The testing kits should be used for only people who were really suffering from the novel virus, he said.
"Aap ne ghabrana nahi hai [You don't need to panic]," he said. "It is our belief that life and death are in the hands of Allah."
He praised the efforts of doctors and nurses and said that the government will help them in their 'Jihad' against the coronavirus. PM Imran said that he understood the plight of overseas Pakistanis at this hour, especially the Pakistani students who were stranded in Wuhan.
The prime minister addressed the country's Ulema and said that it was their responsibility to play a positive role in the crisis.
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