After Peshawar, smart lockdowns to counter novel coronavirus have been imposed in Abbottabad, Swat and Ghotki as the worst-hit parts have been sealed.
According to details, six areas of Abbottabad – Kehall, Jhangi, PMA Road, Qalandarabad, Naryan and Nathia Gali – have been sealed due to rapid increase in COVID-19 cases and a notification has been issued in this regard by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Abbottabad.
Entry and exit points of these areas have been sealed while essential food items, medicine, emergency service shops, general stores and tandoors remain open. It is pertinent to mention here that the number of coronavirus cases has surged 735 in Abbottabad district.
Eleven areas of Swat – including Kharirai, Gwalerai, Odigram, Rang Mahla, Qambar, Saidu Sharif, Barikot West, Kota East, Kuza Bandai and adjacent areas – under as many union councils have been sealed.
Four areas of Ghotki have been sealed initially where entry of people has been banned. Only five persons have been allowed to offer prayers at mosques under standard operating procedures (SOPs) and action against violators will be taken under Section 188. On the other hand, sources have revealed that the authorities have decided to seal Sectors I-8 and I-10 of the federal capital by declaring them hotspot areas. A notification in this regard is likely to be issued within 24 hours.
According to details, 200 coronavirus cases have been reported from Sector I-8 in one day while number of positive individuals has surged to 400 in Sector I-10. It has been learnt that the plan to seal these areas has been finalized.
Earlier, smart lockdown had been imposed in four areas of the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Peshawar due to surge in coronavirus cases.
Deputy Commissioner (DC) Peshawar Muhammad Ali Asghar issued a notification in this regard stating that Smart Lockdown has been implemented in Ashrafia Colony, Chinar Road, University Town, Danishabad and Sector E-Two Phase One Hayatabad.
Entry and exit points of these areas have been closed. Only essential food items, medicine, emergency service shops, general stores and tandoors will remain open in these areas.
Only five people will be allowed to offer congregational prayers at mosque. Instructions have been issued to the area magistrate and police regarding implementation of smart lockdown and violators will be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday was apprised by the provinces including Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) on smart lockdowns and enforcement measures in various areas across the country based on Trace, Test and Quarantine (TTQ) strategy.
According to NCOC, more than 1512 markets and shops, 14 industries and 1466 transport vehicles were warned, fined, sensitized and sealed. It said that during the past 24 hours more than 12,400 violations of health guidelines and instructions were observed across the country.
In line with the prime minister’s instructions for compliance to health guidelines and instructions particularly working places, industrial sector, transport, markets and shops whereas NCOC daily morning situational brief was in progress where the provincial chief secretaries of all the provinces including AJK, GB and ICT representatives were participating through video link.
To ensure the implementation of the health guidelines and instructions and preventive measures including wearing of face mask in public as per WHO new guidelines on the subject particular special teams were operating all across the country to ensure that the standard operating procedures (SOPs) were being implemented.
The details of violations of health guidelines across the country and enforcement measures as under as in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 865 violations were noted and around 153 shops and markets sealed and 321 transport vehicles were fined.
In Gilgit-Baltistan (GB), around 218 violations were noted whereas 48 markets and shops were sealed and 53 transport vehicles were fined.
In Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), around 5336 violations were noticed whereas in consequence 257 shops and markets were sealed, 104 transport vehicles were fined.
In Punjab, 3682 violations of safety guidelines were witnessed in different parts of the province and 655 shops and markets were closed, 7 industries sealed and 834 transport vehicles were also fined on violations.
In Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), as many as 364 violations of SOPs and safety guidelines were noted where in its consequence 154 shops, 147 transport vehicles were fined for flouting the safety and health guidelines.
In Sindh, 860 violations were noted whereas in consequence 41 shops and markets were sealed and 7 transport vehicles were fined on violating health guidelines.
In Balochistan as many as 1,075 violations of safety guidelines were observed and 104 shops and markets were sealed for violating safety protocols.
Meanwhile, a list has been finalised to lock down the streets of 32 areas in Lahore to counter novel coronavirus and will be presented in the Punjab Cabinet Committee meeting.
According to the divisional commissioner office sources, Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar will formally approve the list in the session which will be attended by senior ministers, chief secretary, health minister, health secretary, Lahore Division commissioner, deputy commissioner, CCPO and cabinet committee members.
The decision will be made with consensus of government officers and political leaders. Following the approval, commissioner, deputy commissioner and CCPO will adopt a strategy accordingly and lock down the respective streets by midnight.
On the other hand, Pakistan has confirmed 111 deaths – highest till date – by novel coronavirus in one day as the number of positive cases has surged to 148,921. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 2,839.
According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 4,443 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.
Till now 55,878 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 55,581 in Sindh, 18,472 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 8,327 in Balochistan, 8,857 in Islamabad, 1,143 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 663 in Azad Kashmir.
Furthermore, 1081 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab, 853 in Sindh, 707 in KP, 85 in Balochistan, 83 in Islamabad, 17 in GB and 13 in Azad Kashmir.
Pakistan has so far conducted 922,665 coronavirus tests and 25,015 in last 24 hours. 56,390 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas many are in critical condition.
As part of precautionary measures to contain the spread of COVID-19, the Karachi administration has decided to impose smart lockdown in several areas of the megacity.
According to details, five towns in District West, Karachi has been identified as virus hotspots and authorities have decided to put these areas under smart lockdown to control the spread of coronavirus. The five towns include Gadap, Baldia, Kemari, SITE and Orangi.
In a letter to Deputy Commissioner Karachi West, District Health Officer (DHO) Dr Shafique Ahmad identified 16 union councils in Karachi’s West where smart lockdown should be imposed.
In Kemari, UC-1 Bhutta Village which includes Saeedabad Masjid Road and Umer Khan Road, UC-2 Sultanabad which includes the Habib Public School street and UC-3 Kemari which includes Docks and Majeed Colony.
In Baldi, UC-3 Islama Nagar which includes Naval Colony, UC-4 Naiabadi which includes sectors 4C and 8B, UC-5 Saeedabad which includes Area 5G, 5J and A3.UC-6 Muslim Mujahid which includes Afridi Colony and UC-7 which includes Mujahir Camp and Kokan Colony.
In SITE, UC-4 Metroville’s entire area has been identified as a hotspot while UC-6 Frontier Colony’s sectors 4 and 5 have been included. In UC-7 Banaras, Islamia and Subhani Muhalla have been identified.
In Orangi, UC-6 Ghaziabad’s Christian Colony, UC-11 Data Nagar’s area 7A/B sector 8 and UC-12 Mujahid Colony’s Millatabad, Gulfamaad Aligarh Colony have been identified as coronavirus hotspots.
According to reports, there are 70 positive coronavirus cases in different UC’s of Gadap, 100 confirmed cases in Kemari UC’s, Baldia Town has confirmed 269 Covid-19 cases, while Site area has reported 221 cases so far. The district administration Larkana has also decided to seal 12 virus hotspots in the city due to the rapid increase in coronavirus cases. In this connection, the Deputy Commissioner Larkana has issued a notification to seal several areas from tonight.
The areas which will be sealed include Shahi Bazar, Reto Dero, Jalbani colony, Bandar Road, Main Bus Stand area, Resham Gali. The areas will be sealed for 7 days.
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah yesterday had sought proposals from the health professions to deal with the situation in the metropolis. The chief minister also sought data of the coronavirus hotspots in Karachi, the sources said and added that the government is likely to seal the worst affected areas of the city.
