Sindh govt tightens restrictions to curb Covid-19 spread

Only 20 per cent staff will work from government offices

KARACHI:

The Sindh government on Monday announced a new set of restrictions aimed at mitigating the increase in Covid-19 cases in the province.

The decisions were reached during a Covid-19 task force meeting presided by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

According to the spokesperson to the Sindh chief minister, Abdul Rashid Chana, the provincial administration decided to close all government offices and directed staff to work from home. Only 20 per cent staff would work from offices.

“Secretaries will call their necessary staff,” the spokesperson said quoting CM Murad."Office hours would be from 9am to 2pm."

It was further decided to ban indoor and outdoor dining with only takeaways and home deliveries allowed.

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“Shopping centres would close at 6pm. However, if the Covid-19 cases continue to increase, they would be completely closed as well,” the spokesperson said quoting Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

It was also decided during the meeting that public visits to prisons and offices would also be not allowed in view of the increase in coronavirus cases, however, hospitals are exempt from all these restrictions.

“Inter-city transport will be closed from Thursday, April 29,” the CM Murad said and added that goods transport and industries would remain open adhering to Covid-19 SOPs.

Shah announced that all government offices will also remain closed, saying the staffers will be working from home, while the secretaries will summon certain staff to offices as needed.

Meanwhile, Sindh government spokesperson Murtaza Wahab took to Twitter to confirm the development.

"All Sindh government offices shall operate with an essential staff of 20 per cent only. All schools, colleges and universities shall also remain closed due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases," he said.