Capital split into three zones

538 more Covid cases surface in ICT; 15 hotspots in Rawalpindi under smart lockdown

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

Continuing with the alarming rise, 538 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the federal capital in a day, which was the highest single-day spike in the last 100 days, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) said on Thursday.

Given rising positive cases, the government has split federal capital into three zones to efficiently control the spread of the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), District Health Officer (DHO) confirmed. According to an NCOC official, some 443 new corona cases were reported on Wednesday and 414 on Tuesday.

Similarly, the Punjab government authorities have identified 15 hotspots in Rawalpindi having a high incidence of Covid-19 cases.

Read more: Punjab contributing 55% to Covid-19 mortality rate: NCOC

DHO Dr Zaeem Zia said they have split Islamabad into red, yellow and green zones as per the prevalence of Covid-19 infections to sensitise the people.

Dr Zia said that the highest numbers of infections were reported in the red zone which includes sectors F-11/1, G-9/1, G-10/4 and I-10/2, Bhara Kahu, and Bani Gala.

Some 377 cases were reported in the red zone during the past 10 days with over 50 cases daily in each sector.

The yellow zone comprises nine sectors including G-11/1, I-8/2, I-8/4, G-9/1, G-9/2, I-10/1, I-10/2, I-10/4, G-2, Shehzad Town and Baharia Phase-III. The rate of infections in the yellow zone remained lower than red. Some 474 cases surfaced in the yellow zone in the last 10 days, said the DHO.

The remaining sectors of the federal capital have been declared green where only 11 cases were reported collectively during the same period.

Rawalpindi hotspots

The Rawalpindi Deputy Commissioner (DC) Anwarul Haq has directed the authorities concerned including assistant commissioners and magistrates to ensure implementation of coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the Punjab government to control the spread of the pandemic virus, particularly in 15 hotspots of the district where smart lockdown has been imposed.

According to district administration spokesman, the 15 hotspots include Sadiqabad Street 27 and Street 2 to 7, Allama Iqbal Colony, CB 1231, near Qasar-e-Abu Talib, Azizabad, Dhoke Paracha, Dhoke Chaudharian, Afshan Colony, Misrial Road, Gulraiz Housing Scheme, Phase-5, Lalazar, Tulsa Road Street 24, 36 and 39, Muhallah Amirpura, Bahria Town, Phase-8 (All), Satellite Town, Block-A, Khayaban-e-Sir Syed Sector 2 and 4, Lehtrar area of Kotli Sattian and Lalarukh, an area of Taxila are under restrictions to protect health and lives of the citizens.

On the orders of the Punjab government, there is controlled entry and exit in the hotspots till March 23.

Meanwhile, two shopkeepers were arrested over violation of the coronavirus SOPs. A police spokesman on Wednesday informed that district administration and police team conducted surprise checking at Misrial Road and found a violation of corona SOPs.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 19^th, 2021.