LAHORE (Web Desk): Prime Minister Imran Khan on Thursday said Pakistan was in the midst of a “very dangerous third wave” of coronavirus and urged the public to wear face masks to stay safe.
“The next two weeks are very crucial and our target is to bring down the coronavirus cases,” he said while addressing a ceremony in Lahore.
The prime minister advised the entire nation to take the threat of coronavirus seriously and wear masks, which have proved to be an effective precautionary measure against coronavirus.
With blessings of Allah Almighty, COVID-19 cases remained under control in Pakistan as compared to the rest of the world, he said.
“Had the government not taken an action in improving its healthcare capacity and increasing oxygen supply, the situation would not have been much different than India,” he said.
He said the situation in India, where people were dying on the roads roads due to COVID-19, was a lesson to learn from.
“Therefore, I advise everyone to exercise caution by wearing masks and help contain the spread of virus,” he said.
The premier has repeatedly urged people to wear masks since cases started to rise last year.
Before the onset of winter he warned that if everyone does not wear masks in public, cases will shoot up.
“There is a fear onset of winter could result in 2nd wave. I urge everyone to wear face masks in public to avoid a spike. All offices and educational institutions must ensure masks are worn,” the prime minister said in a tweet.
He termed it the “easiest precaution” one can take, when Pakistan was battling the second coronavirus wave last year.
This year, after contracting COVID-19 himself and as the third wave intensified, the premier urged people to continue to exercise caution, including wearing a mask and avoiding gatherings, as carelessness leads to exposure to the virus.
“I exercised precaution for a whole year. I never went to any wedding or even to a restaurant to eat. I practiced social distancing and kept my mask on for the most part,” he said.
“So I was safe. I was among those who remained safe in the first two waves,” he added.
The premier said that in the Senate election, however, he “did not exercise as much caution and so caught the virus”.
