28 houses sealed in Abbottabad
The authorities on Monday sealed 28 more houses in three districts of Hazara division as the spread of coronavirus continued unabated, a spokesperson said.
During the first week of Ramazan, there has been a surge in the region in patients suffering from the virus as dozens of new cases were reported while the death toll also increased in three districts of Hazara division namely Haripur, Abbottabad and Mansehra.
On the health department’s recommendations, the Abbottabad district administration sealed various localities of Abbottabad, including lower Jinnah Abad, Nawansher, Tachi Chowk, Jogni, Mirpur, Kehal, Lambi Dheri, Jhangi Upper Kehal and some other areas and imposed a smart lockdown.
Meanwhile, Covid cases increased rapidly in Mansehra where 17 new positive cases were reported the other day. With the latest cases reported, the total number has crossed 3,000 cases of which 2,795 people have recovered while active cases in the district stand at 161.
The residents are ignoring the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and refusing to wear face masks in public places, an official lamented, adding that since the start of Ramazan, people are thronging bazaars for Eid shopping.
Despite the provincial government’s ban on reopening educational institutions, some private schools have started classes. Similarly, hotels and transporters have failed to comply with SOPs in the district, the official stated, which is a major factor in the spread of the virus.
Published in The Express Tribune, April 20th, 2021.