Govt intensifies SOPs’ enforcement

Several restaurants, food points sealed over risk of coronavirus spread

LAHORE:

As the number of coronavirus cases continues to rise, the government has decided to ensure strict enforcement of the Covid-19 safety standard operating procedures (SOPs).

Lahore district administration sealed several eateries over violation of the coronavirus SOPs.

On directives of the Lahore deputy commissioner, district administration officials inspected restaurants and eateries in different areas of the metropolis for enforcement of the coronavirus SOPs.

They sealed several restaurants on Gurumangat Road and Kasuri Road over violation of the SOPs. Model Town Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Nadeem highlighted that all the sealed eateries were not implementing the coronavirus SOPs and their staff were also not vaccinated.

He underscored that the local administration had launched crackdown against restaurants and businesses not adhering to the coronavirus SOPs.

Latest data issued by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department showed that 1,773 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the province during past 24 hours, after which the total number of cases recorded so far rose to 466,210. Out of them, 431,987 patients have recovered. The departments highlighted that there are 21,109 active coronavirus cases in Punjab.

The data showed that as many as 1,175 new coronavirus cases were reported in Lahore, 200 in Rawalpindi, 61 in Faisalabad, 45 in Sialkot, 37 in Multan, 30 in Gujranawala, 26 in Sargodha, 21 in Sheikhupura, 15 in Jhelum, 14 in Bahawalpur, 12 in Okara, 11 in Kasur, 10 in Gujrat, nine in Sahiwal, eight each in Nankana Sahib, Jhang and Dera Ghazi Khan, seven in Rahim Yar Khan, five in Chakwal, four each in Mianwali and Vehari and three in Chaniot. The virus claimed five lives in Lahore, two in Rawalpindi, and one each in Sheikhupura and Multan during past 24 hours, after which the total number of coronavirus-related deaths across the province reached 13,411.

Provincial Health Secretary Imran Sikandar Baloch stated that over 9.38 million coronavirus tests have been conducted in Punjab, including 20,041 in past 24 hours. The positive test result ratio in Lahore has touched the highest level of over 15.8%, followed by 12.5% in in Rawalpindi, 5.5% in Multan, 4.7% in Faisalabad and 2.5% in Gujranwala. The overall positive test ratio in Punjab was recorded at 8.6%, he pointed out.

The health secretary advised citizens to follow the coronavirus safety SOPs to rein in the spread of the disease, pointing out that precaution was the only remedy available. He asked citizens to get themselves vaccinated at the earliest. The government is trying its best to vaccinate all citizens above 12 years of age. He also advised citizens to avoid visiting outdoor and crowded areas, use face masks and ensure social distancing.

Meanwhile, in an effort to check the spread of coronavirus, Lahore Division Commissioner Capt (retd) Muhammad Usman handed over 100,000 coronavirus masks and letters to Punjab Deputy Post Master General Dr Anwar Kharal, under the ‘Lahore wears mask’ campaign, to dispatch them free of cost to Lahorites.

Masks packed in envelopes with a coronavirus preventive measures awareness message, will be dispatched to citizens as per addresses provided by Lahore Electric Supply Company to the commissioner office.

Usman said that imported, washable coronavirus masks would also be given at mosques, churches, markets, government departments and educational institutions to protect the citizens.

He announced that 7.8 million masks had reached Lahore and seven million more were awaited. He said that to reach every door, more avenues were also being explored to give Covid-19 masks to citizens. The commissioner also gave masks for the postal service office employees.

Deputy PMG Kharal said that Pakistan Post would serve the noble cause of saving the citizens and welcomed the partnership for providing masks free of cost at each doorstep.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 26^th, 2022.