23 virus hotspots sealed in Rawalpindi

Assembly of more than four people banned

RAWALPINDI: As many as 23 localities in different areas of the garrison city, that have been declared coronavirus hotspots, have been sealed off early morning on Thursday.

The areas have been put under restrictions to curb virus spread as a large fraction of the population living there was reported to be infected from the contagion.

Some seven cantonment areas including Dhari Hasanabad, Peoples Colony, Allama Iqbal Colony, few localities of Tench Bhata, Jhawara, Ghausia Chowk, Tahli Mohra were sealed off in the morning by the police on Thursday.

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Other 15 localities, where the curfew-like lockdown has been enforced, include Dhok Kala Khan, Qayyumabad, Sadiqabad, Muslim Town, Kurri Road, Aliabad, Dhok Ali Akbar, Afandi Colony, Magistrate Colony, Dhok Paracha, Dhok Kashmirian and A, B and C blocks of Satellite Town.

The district administration acquired services of 300 volunteers of Coronavirus Tiger Force (CTF) and the Civil Defence Department (CDD) along with the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) personnel. These volunteers, along with the security personnel, have been deployed in the areas where smart lockdown has been imposed.

The administration has imposed section 144 in the sealed areas under which assembly of more than four people have been prohibited. Besides this, there would be a ban on pillion riding while it would be mandatory for the motorcyclists to wear a helmet and facemask while riding. All the residents, while stepping out, would be obliged to wear facemasks and gloves too.

All government, private offices, and industrial units in the freshly sealed areas would remain shut until the lockdown is lifted on June 30.

Main markets and bazaars in the areas would not open as well while for the facilitation of the residents, only the shops dealing in essential commodities would remain operational.

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The administration has completed arrangements to ensure an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities in the sealed areas.

Assistant Commissioner (AC) Cantonment Ramsha Javed visited the sealed areas of Cantonment on Thursday and forced the closure of shops in the areas that have not been exempted to function.

Similarly, AC City Sohaib Qazi carried out an action against the violators in Sadiqabad and adjoining areas too.

Further, the Rawalpindi district administration and health department in consultation with the intelligence agencies and the special branch of police has started collecting data of positive cases in another 10 areas of the garrison city. The administration is mulling to seal the related areas as well to curb the spread of the virus. 

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2020.