ICTA procures 0.1m tonne of disinfectant

Islamabad's confirmed COVID-19 tally soars past 35

ISLAMABAD: The federal government has decided to spray disinfectant chemicals in the whole capital territory to halt the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19).

A mixture of 100,000 tonne of antibacterial chemicals such as methyl alcohol, chlorine, and sodium hypochlorite, commonly used as household bleach, has been procured by the Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA).

The mixture will be prepared under the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines, would be sprayed in all areas of Islamabad using latest machines.

In the initial phase, the hotbed of Covid-19 including Bara Kahu, Shehzad Town, where most cases surfaced, would be especially focused during the exercise.

Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Hamza Shafqaat said that they had set the target for eradicating the contagion and hoped that they would achieve their target.

He added that ‘safe Islamabad’ was their mission, declaring pandemic as a test for people. The official said that the situation could still be controlled if people cooperated with the administration and abided by its directives.

Shafqaat said that the suburban areas, slums, and quarantine centres would be especially focused while disinfectants would be sprayed. Justifying the measure, DC said that many virus-hit countries had used the mixture to kill germs and bacteria, adding that it would produce far-fetched results. The official said that the spray would also halt the growth of dengue larvae.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 29^th, 2020.