ISLAMABAD/KARACHI: Smart lockdown has been imposed in Karachi and Islamabad where the Covid infection rate is very high.
In Karachi, the deputy commissioner of Karachi’s district South imposed a micro smart lockdown in Saddar, Civil Lines, and Garden after coronavirus cases in the neighbourhoods shot up.
The order was passed Monday on the recommendation of the Sindh Health Department. In the last 24 hours, over 400 covid cases have been reported in the district.
Entry and exit points in the following areas will be closed starting Monday until February 5, the orders stated.
- Garden – Eidgah Lane, Street 8-11
- Saddar – Sunset Street, Phase II, DHA
- Saddar – Naval Heights
- Civil Lines – Rumi Street, Clifton
- Civil Lines – Clifton Tower, Makki Masjid
- Civil Lines – Iqbal Lane L Block
- Civil Lines – B-05, Boat Basin, Clifton
- Civil Lines – Khayaban-e-Shaheen, Badar House #89
The highest number of cases were reported in Garden. According to the notification, unnecessary movement of people will be restricted in the areas during the lockdown.
Along with that, commissioner and assistant commissioners of the localities have been told to ensure implementation of the following SOPs:
- All businesses to ensure covid SOPs –wearing masks and social distancing– are strictly followed.
- No private gathering allowed inside houses.
- No gatherings of more than three people in public.
- Covid positive people to quarantine at home.
- Ration to be provided in areas under lockdown.
- Lockdown to stay in place until cases drop to zero.
Meanwhile, Karachi’s Covid positivity rate decreased from 40% last week to 37.32% Monday. In the last 24 hours, 3,180 cases were reported across Sindh of which 2,831 were from the city.
Meanwhile, in Islamabad the administration has imposed a smart lockdown in six sectors, and the District Health Office has requested to seal 30 streets in different parts of the capital with a high Covid-19 positivity rate.
Recommendations are also being made to seal more areas that have been identified as hotspots for the virus.
The national positivity rate jumped to a little over 12%. In the last 24 hours, 7,195 people tested positive for Covid19. The novel virus claimed eight lives on January 23.
