Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Thursday hinted at an extension of lockdown in Sindh by a week beyond April 14.
While speaking to media persons, the chief minister called for a uniform policy to be implemented in all provinces across the country to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus. He said that decision on an extension in lockdown will be taken after approval from the provincial cabinet.
The chief minister said that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) are being devised to allow any activity in the province. He said the government is considering to make industries and factories operational and that they would be allowed to operate with minimum employees to ensure social distancing and safety measures.
On Sunday, a visiting delegation of Chinese experts urged Punjab province to extend its lockdown to at least 28 days, adding that any decision to end the movement restrictions should only be taken in view of the rate at which the coronavirus was spreading.
On Tuesday, during a meeting with Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho, experts from China said the existing lockdown should be extended. This suggestion was then echoed during a meeting between CEOs of leading hospitals and prominent doctors and Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.
The Chinese experts said an eight-week lockdown was crucial to halt the spread of COVID-19. They appreciated the steps taken by the province thus far in managing the virus, but said social distancing remained key to stopping it from spreading further and this was only possible through government-enforced lockdowns. “For effective results, it’s crucial to extend the lockdown. In many areas of China, the lockdown continued for two months which proved fruitful,” said the Chinese experts.
Reportedly, the Sindh chief minister has said he would consult all stakeholders about whether or not the province should extend its lockdown beyond April 14. However, also on Tuesday, Sindh minister Saeed Ghani said the province would likely allow exemptions to the lockdowns from next week to help the economy recover from the impacts of the mass closures