22 virus ‘hotspot’ in Rawalpindi unsealed

Police turn blind eye to violators of SOPs

RAWALPINDI:

As many as 22 streets and neighbourhoods of Rawalpindi, which had been sealed after being declared as ‘hotspots’ over fears of novel coronavirus (Covid-19) clusters developing there, will formally reopen today (Wednesday).

Blockades and pickets set up on the entry and exit points of these areas were also removed late on Tuesday.

After a significant rise in Covid-19 cases was detected there, the Punjab government had decided to impose a ‘smart lockdown’ in 22 areas of the city on June 18. These areas included

Dhoke Kala Khan, Qayyumabad, Iqbal Town, Dhoke Paracha, Dhoke Kashmirian, Kurri Road, Aliabad, Dhoke Ali Akbar, Sadiqabad, Magistrate Colony, Satellite Town’s A and C blocks, Muslim Town, and Khurram Colony. In the cantonment areas, People's Colony, Dheri Hassanabad, Tahli Mohri, Ghousia Chowk, Jhamra, Tench Bhatta and Allama Iqbal Colony.

Meanwhile, the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to curb the spread of Covid-19 continued to be defied in the ‘open’ areas of Rawalpindi with the number of coronavirus cases rising to 5,766 on Tuesday, up from 5,722 on Monday.

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Residents of the unrestricted areas kept moving freely without following the SOPs. The police also stopped taking action against motorists who defied the SOPs.

Despite a ban on pillion riding, many violated the ban without being punished. The Express Tribune has learnt that during the past 48 hours, no motorcycle was impounded for defying the pillion riding ban nor was any case registered.

Further, the closure of two major wholesale markets including Bara Bazaar and Nankari Bazaar have put thousands of traders in a dilemma.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 1^st, 2020.