Govt moves to check virus resurgence in Karachi

Lockdown expands to East, Korangi districts, scores of businesses sealed

KARACHI:

The government has tightened pandemic restrictions in Karachi, with the city administration sealing in the recent days multiple commercial entities where coronavirus-related standard operating procedures (SOPs) were ignored. Meanwhile, the lockdown was extended to five neighbourhoods of East district and three union councils (UCs) of Korangi district.

As many as 316 new Covid-19 cases emerged in Sindh on Friday, with 223 of them from Karachi.

According to a statement issued by the Karachi commissioner's office, 61 restaurants, including 29 in Central district, nine in South district, eight in Korangi district, seven in Malir district and four each in East and West district, were sealed on September 30.

Similarly, four marriages halls, including two in Central district and as many in Korangi district, were sealed on the day.

On Thursday, the teams of relevant district administrations sealed three marriage halls in Korangi district and 48 restaurants, including 19 in South district, 13 in East district, eight in Malir district and one each in West and Korangi district.

Furthermore, over a period of just three days, a total of 118 restaurants were sealed across the city.

Moreover, four private schools were closed in South district and three shops were sealed in Central district on Thursday.

Besides, scores of shop, marriage hall, school and restaurant owners were warned against violating pandemic SOPs.

Then on Friday, the East district administration imposed lockdown in five different locations, including Al-Mustafa Apartments in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Askari-IV in Gulistan-e-Johar, Gulistan-e-Johar's block-13, Al-Khaleed Tower on Shaheed-e-Millat Road and a portion of Martin Quarters.

The lockdown was enforced on October 2 at midnight, and will remain in place till October 17.

Besides, a complete lockdown was imposed in UC-1, UC-11 and UC-33 of Korangi district.

Earlier, micro-smart lockdowns were enforced in two localities of West district and as many of South district.

The lockdowns were imposed after relevant deputy commissioners and district health officials identified areas where Covid-19 cases were on the rise, according to health department officials.

Speaking on the matter, Sindh health department spokesperson Meeran Yousuf told The Express Tribune that in some cases, entire families had tested positive for Covid-19.

Saying the citizens had been violating pandemic SOPs of late, she stated that district administrations had been directed to ensure the strict implementation of coronavirus-related restrictions at public places and the health department, too, wanted proper implementation of government orders in this regard.

On Friday, police and district administration officials patrolled markets and streets across the megalopolis, instructing shopkeepers to close businesses within the time set by the government and ensure the strict implementation of SOPs.

In various areas, shopkeepers were witnessed requesting customers to sanitise their hands and distributing free masks before allowing people entry into their shops.

According to a shop owner from Civil Lines, hardly any customers bring their own masks. "We cannot stop them from entering [the shop] and think it best to offer them masks and sanitisers, hoping that they will realise the importance [of using them]," he said.

Meanwhile, challans were issued to the owners of 174 vehicles, in addition imposing a fine on them for violating the SOPs. Of these, authorities took 77 vehicles, including 11buses and 43 mini buses, into custody.

Plus, a private bank was sealed in Khadda Market, after four of its staff tested positive.

Confirming this, South DC Irshad Sodhar said his teams had been patrolling areas and sealing entities where the SOPs were being violated.

Speaking with regards to screening for Covid-19, he said tests, including drive-through and home testing, were being carried out across the South district on a regular basis.

"When we test more people, we get more positive cases," he remarked.

And if authorities continue regular testing with complete honesty elsewhere in the country, a rise in cases would be observed there too, a senior district health official opined.

"We are not like Punjab and here [in Sindh], we have continued with contact tracing so as to curb the spread of the virus," he added.

According to health department officials, the city's hospitals currently have sufficient space to accommodate Covid-19 patients, even as numbers continue to rise. Officials claim there is enough space even for critically ill patients.