‘Virus may spread during smart lockdown’

Meer Zia Langove says masses must ensure implementation on safety precautions

QUETTA: Provincial Minister for Home and Tribal Affairs Meer Zia Langove on Friday said the spread of the contagious coronavirus is likely to rise in Balochistan during the smart-lockdown.

“Masses must ensure implementation on safety precautions. Customers and shop owners should maintain social-distancing,” Langove said. “This is how citizens in civilised societies have been protecting themselves and others from being infected with coronavirus.”

The minister predicted a rise in active cases as a large number of citizens are busy shopping without following the standard operating procedures. “Government eased the province-wide lockdown in wake of the economic woes of a large segment of our society but the virus still exists in our environment and positive cases might rise.”

Langove urged citizens to remain more careful than before. He further maintained that imposing a lockdown again might trigger starvation. “We need to act like an educated society and follow safety precautions.”

Published in The Express Tribune, May 23^rd, 2020.