Seven people die of Covid-19 in Rawalpindi

Govt finds it hard to enforce SOPs, imposes more lockdowns to curb virus

ISLAMABAD/RAWALPINDI:

Seven people died of the novel coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in Rawalpindi on Monday, the highest count in the past three months.

According to the health authorities, 120 more patients have tested positive for the viral infection in the garrison city as the third wave of the contagion rages across the region.

People in general across the garrison city and the federal capital are ignoring the directive to wear face masks in public places, particularly markets, while shopkeepers too are giving little consideration to the availability of sanitisers and ensuring social distancing.

Parliamentary Secretary for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Dr Nausheen Hamid on Monday urged the public to strictly adhere to the Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs) in the wake of the increasing number of infections in the country during the third strong wave of novel coronavirus disease.

Expressing her serious concerns over the rapid spread of the virus, she said that the UK variant of the virus reached Pakistan through infected people coming home to Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other cities of Punjab.

"The UK variant of Covid-19 has become more deadly after going through a mutation, but we can control it just as we did in the past two waves by following the SoPs,” she said.

However, despite clear directives of the federal and provincial governments, people were seen callously ignoring standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

More lockdowns in Pindi

Subsequently, the Rawalpindi District Health Authority (DHA) has suggested the district administration to impose a smart lockdown in six more areas of the district as several positive cases were being reported from these areas.

The authority proposed to seal the areas of DSP office Gujar Khan, Mandahal Thati Gujar Khan, Street 13 Chaklala Scheme III, Lane III Defence Road, and House 218 in Judicial Colony till March 30 in addition to 16 areas already under smart lockdown to prevent the spread of the virus.

Meanwhile, District Health Officer Dr Jawad Khalid said that 216 more people have become victims of Covid-19 infection during the last 24 hours.

Deputy Commissioner Anwarul Haq urged the business community to strictly follow SOPs related to the business activities to ensure safe working conditions to reduce the impact of Covid-19 spread as the prevailing wave of the corona was more hazardous compared to the previous ones.

He asked the traders to ensure social distancing, use of masks, and availability of hand sanitisers at the outlets for customers.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 23^rd, 2021.