ISLAMABAD: Director General of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom warned on Thursday 23rd of April, if effective interventions were not taken, 200,000 people in Pakistan could be infected by COVID-19 by the mid of July (2020).

His statement came at the launch of the Pakistan National Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan virtual conference.

WHO DG stated: “Without effective interventions there could be an estimated 200K+ cases by mid-July (in Pakistan). The impacts on the economy could be devastating, doubling the number of people living in poverty. We must act in solidarity, with a coherent, coordinated approach…

“Pakistan’s COVID19 Response Plan is a joint strategy of the Government of Pakistan, the UN and partners. It is aligned with the GlobalGoalsUN, Pakistan’s National Action Plan and WHO’s global Strategic Preparedness and Response Plan.”

“When this year began, little was known about COVID19. Now, it has spread globally, upending health systems and economies, and putting lives and livelihoods at risk…The virus has already spread throughout 115+ districts are affected, largely in Punjab & Sindh. The COVID19 outbreak is creating significant additional pressure on an already overburdened health system, exacerbating the vulnerabilities of affected populations.

“Particular attention must be paid to mitigating the socio-economic and nutritional impacts of the #COVID19 pandemic on the most vulnerable”-

Newspakistan.tv