ISLAMABAD: Five Islamabad sub-sectors today (Monday) will be sealed (undergo a smart lock-down) amid rise in the coronavirus cases. According to a notification from the Deputy Commissioner Islamabad on Sunday, "Sub-sectors 1-8/3, 1-8/4, G-9/1, G-10/4 and G-6/2 Islamabad are hereby sealed (locked down) w.e.f. 10.00 A.M, 09.11.2020 in larger public interest and until further orders."
"The exemptions to this order include essential services and supplies like pharmacy, patients for medical aid, rationing, drinking water supplies and emergency etc," it added. The notification called on the local police to cordon off the sub-sectors to ensure, the spread of the virus is curbed.
"The Sub-Divisional Magistrates Industrial Area, City and Shalimar, ICT Islamabad are hereby directed to execute the orders in their subdivisions and to ensure uninterrupted supply of food/edibles inside the infield sub-sectors," read the notification.
The development came a couple of days after the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government imposed a targeted lockdown in certain areas of Peshawar due to a rise in the coronavirus cases. Pakistan has seen a surge in the Covid-19 cases in the past couple of months, notable since the country decided to relax business timings, re-open restaurants and schools as well as other educational institutes across the country.
The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA), while appealing to the people to follow the coronavirus SOPs, has recently warned them against a "more lethal" second wave of the disease. Hailing the government's decision to impose fines on those not wearing masks in public, the PMA had urged the government to take strict action against those not following the Covid-19 SOPs.
"The virus has claimed lives of at least eight doctors in the past three weeks," the PMA had said in a statement on Saturday. They had also suggested the government organise a mask distribution drive, ensure prices of masks and sanitisers were controlled.
The PMA had also sought personal protection equipment for doctors and paramedical staff from the government, and demanded the release of funds promised under an already announced package.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2020