Temporary residential points pose Covid risk

Beds and other necessities available for less than Rs200 per night

MULTAN:

A lack of implementation of standard operating procedures (SOP) in temporary residential areas and at the entry and exit points of the city for transporters could potentially turn them into coronavirus hotspots.

Residents complained that with the advent of the winter season, a large number of vendors had set up stalls of warm clothes, blankets, beds, including charpoy, pillows and other accessories for local people near general bus stands and other areas where the SOPs were not being followed. Transporters and passengers were the main customers of the temporary facilities as they usually could stay overnight at much cheaper rates compared to hotels.

“The transporters from Balochistan, Karachi, Lahore and other cities prefer to stay at these points instead of hotels and rented rooms”, commented Aslam Tahir, a local resident. However, he stated, no proper mechanism was being observed at these spots to check coronavirus affected people coming from other cities. Aamir Ilyas, another resident, said the district administration and other departments concerned were not taking the issue seriously, which was a severe threat for residents of the city.

 

 

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