Offices told to work at half strength

Schools to close from November 26

RAWALPINDI/ ISLAMABAD:

The second wave of the novel coronavirus has forced the district administration to again impose strict conditions, including the closure of all schools and educational institutions from November 26 apart from cutting the strength of staff in offices by around half as the remaining staff works from home.

These directions were issued on Monday by the respective authorities.

In the federal capital, as many as 449 novel coronavirus (Covid-19) cases were confirmed in the past 24 hours. At least one associated death was also reported.

In Rawalpindi, as many as 167 new novel coronavirus cases were reported in the past 24 hours while two infected patients succumbed to the contagion on Monday.

The deceased included 54-year-old Zahida Ashfaq and 56-year-old Faiz Bux. Both of them hailed from the garrison city. Some 154 among the fresh cases hailed from Rawalpindi district while the remaining 10 hailed from other districts of the division. This included 47 positive cases from Potohar Town, 39 from Cantt, and 50 from Rawal town.

A government spokesperson said that 36 patients are receiving treatment at the Holy Family Hospital (HFH), 19 at the Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), eight in Red Crescent Hospital (RCH), and three in the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT).

Half strength

To counter the threat posed by the pandemic virus, the Punjab government has directed to reduce the strength of staff attending offices by 50 per cent.

The directive will apply to all public and private establishments across the province.

The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare department in a notification issued on Monday directed to limit the attendance of staff in offices. Only half the employees will come into offices while the remaining half will work remotely. The restriction would remain in effect until January 31, 2021.

Schools closed

The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat on Monday directed to close all schools and colleges in the city from November 26 to January 10. The directions came after an inter-provincial committee of education ministers decided on early and extended winter vacations in schools to protect children from the pandemic virus.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 24^th, 2020.