Calling for a strict lockdown, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) on Thursday warned the next three to four weeks were very important and one should avoid making decisions which might prove to be regrettable in future.

The PMA president, Dr Ashraf Nizami, expressed his fears, saying that the actual number of coronavirus cases in the country might be in hundreds of thousands, as he raised questions over the testing rate and the reported patients.

The number of infected people is not in thousands, it is much higher than that, he maintained, adding that they felt afraid while quoting the real figures.

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Dr Ashraf said everyone should pray that the country did not reach a stage where the patients may have to be treated on streets, as he raised alarm over the limited capacity of Pakistan’s healthcare system and the huge population of 220 million.

The PMA president, who was accompanied by other office-bearers, told a press conference in Lahore that there was a need to take tough decisions.

Citing the examples of the Middle East countries, he said everyone knew what kind of decisions had been taken there, adding that the daily prayers had been banned even in the Two Holy Mosques.

Addressing the powers that be and the Chief Justice of Pakistan, he called for revising the decisions taken by the government and said they should not be forced to face a Europe-like situation.      

While noting that the coronavirus pandemic will further spread and worsen the condition, he said the Punjab government showed dishonesty as it ignored the suggestions presented by the doctors.