Punjab imposes smart lockdown in virus hotspots

New restrictions are aimed at limiting movement of people residing in affected areas of six cities

LAHORE:

In a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus in the wake of second wave of the pandemic, the Punjab government has imposed smart lockdowns in several areas of six cities across the province.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, in a statement issued on Wednesday, said that smart lockdowns are being imposed only in Covid-19 hotspots.

There will be a restriction on the movement of residents of all affected areas and only one passenger will be allowed to travel in need, Captain (retd) Muhammad Usman, secretary health Punjab, said in the statement.

All types of public gatherings will be strictly banned, while all medical stores, pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, collection points, hospitals, and clinics will remain operational around the clock. Milk shops, meat shops, and bakeries will remain open from 7am to 7pm. Grocery stores, general stores, fruits and vegetable shops, flour shops, tandoors, and petrol pumps will remain open from 9am to7pm.

The smart lockdown is aimed at limiting the movement of people residing in the affected areas. An induced smart lockdown will help in curbing the spread of disease and keep others at bay from falling prey to the disease, captain (retd) Usman maintained.

The Primary and Secondary Healthcare secretary warned that only precaution can prevent the resurgence of the deadly disease.

According to the statement, Block-F1 Valentia Town Paragon City, Block E1, E2, F1, F2, G2, G4, G5 Johar Town, Boys Hostel Number 11, and Superintendent House Punjab University, DHA Phase 4 sector AA, BB, CC, FF, DHA Phase 3 sector XX, DHA Phase 1 sector N, Block A, B, FCC and some areas of Gulberg 4 have been sealed in Lahore.

A smart lockdown has been imposed in Jalilabad, Railway Road, Gulgasht Colony, Khan Village Housing Society, and Garden Town in Multan while some areas in Gulshan Madina and Mohalla Khursheed Shah have been blocked in Bhakkar, it said.

In Rawalpindi, smart lockdown has been imposed in DHA Phase 1 sector C, Gulshanabad Street 10, Holy Road, Block-B4 Allama Iqbal Street, Muslim Town, and some areas of Phase-III Bahria Town.

New Sadiq Colony, Satellite Town, Hashmi Garden, Model Town and Government Post Graduate College Baghdad Road in Bahawalpur similarly have been blocked, the primary and secondary healthcare secretary further shared.

A smart lockdown has also been induced in lane number 1, 2 of Qasim Park, Government MS Boys School and Block-A Satellite Town and areas in its vicinity.

All shopping malls, restaurants, and private and government offices will remain closed in the lockdown induced areas, he added.