Smart lockdowns return in Sindh

Amid ballooning coronavirus infections across the country, the Sindh government tightened restrictions across the province on Monday.

The provincial home department's notification, announcing smart lockdowns across Sindh till April 15, comes on the heels of the National Command and Operation Centre's warnings to provinces to ensure implementation of Covid-mandated standard operating procedures as a third wave of the pandemic has hit the country.

In a bid to curb rising infections, the provincial government, which had until last week maintained that the situation in Sindh was under control, restricted the timings for all commercial activities to 6 am till 10 pm.

These timings are to be followed by markets, shopping malls, marriage halls, and other businesses - with the exception of those offering essential services. The latter category includes pharmacies, clinics, hospitals, petrol pumps, bakeries, and milk shops.

While commercial activities are not to be suspended entirely, the provincial government has once again enforced a 50 percent attendance policy in public and private offices.

Besides, the notification specifies, no indoor weddings will be permitted and outdoor gatherings and weddings may only continue with a maximum limit of 300 persons and strict implementation of Covid-mandated SOPs. "Marques with defined modification for ventilations. No buffet service is allowed," the notification states. It further adds that no in-door dining at restaurants will be permitted but outdoor dining and takeaways can continue.

Moreover, all amusement parks are to be shut by 6 pm while indoor recreational facilities such as gyms, cinemas, and theatres are to remain shut. The closure has also been extended to shrines and other indoor gathering places. "There will be a smart lockdown as per earlier decision based on disease hotspot as deemed appropriate by commissioners and deputy commissioners under the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act 2014," reads the notification.

Third-wave in Sindh? Until as recently as last week, the provincial government officials had maintained that while one could not throw caution to the wind, the province was still faring better than the rest of the country with regards to the pandemic.

On March 10 when two-week closures of schools were announced in different cities across the country, the Sindh education department decided to permit schools to remain open and continued with its policy of 50 percent on-campus attendance.

The effect on students and teachers of suspending educational activities for prolonged time periods will be adverse, said Sindh Health Minister Dr. Azra Pechuho had said on the day, insisting that regular testing of students, faculty, and staff should be practiced instead.

She had further urged the NCOC to expedite the vaccination process for the more vulnerable demographics in the country.

The isolation ward at Karachi Expo Centre had also been put on hold with officials saying fewer patients are requiring its services while a drop in coronavirus testing was also observed.

Speaking to The Express Tribune, Sindh Health Director-General Dr. Irshad Memon had maintained that all schools are being monitored since January.

"We are more conscious and more active than any other province," Dr. Memon had said. "The number of positive cases is going down and there is no third wave coming to the province."