Staff Reporters
Peshawar/Islamabad
The District Administration here Friday imposed smart lockdown in various areas of the provincial capital on the recommendation of District Health Officer.
A notification issued here said that St No 15-A, Defence Officers Colony, Khyber Road, Peshawar Cantt, St No 13, Gul Bahar No 2, Ishrat Cinema Road, House No 17, Fort Road, Peshawar Cantt, House No 48C, Sahib Zada Road, University Town, Adjacent Houses on left and right and including House No 87, St No 4, Sector H2, Phase-VII, Hayatabad and Adjacent Houses on left and right including H. No 115, St No 10 Sector G-1, Phase-II, Hayatabad.
It said that the lockdown would take effect from November 7 and shall remain in force till further orders, adding that no general entry and exit to this locality by any person except those supplying essential commodities and services.
The concerned magistrate-in-charge and DPOs have been asked to ensure implementation of this order while DHO would ensure provision of health services in these localities.
Anyone to be found violating the SOPs would be liable to be proceeded against under sections 17 and 18 of KP Epidemic Control and Emergency Relief Act 2020.
Secretary-General of Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Dr Qaiser Sajjad Friday warned that the burden on hospitals and health facilities across the country will further increase if the citizens does not adhere to the standard operating procedures (SOPs) devised to curb the spread of second wave of Covid-19.
Talking to media, he expressed his serious concerns on increasing number of COVID-19 cases in the country urged the provincials and federal government to take appropriate emergency measures to manage the coming situation as second wave of coronavirus is more aggressive than before.
Dr Qaiser cautioned that situation can get worst if health-related guidelines were neglected in the public gatherings, adding, the good news is that we do understand more about COVID-19 transmission than we did when lockdown measures were first imposed. He said that the world is facing the second strong wave of the coronavirus pandemic, adding, that the second spike could be lethal for Pakistan as well.
‘I could say that second wave is already started, because the number of cases is increasing day by day in Pakistan and deaths were also recorded,’ Dr Sajjad said.
He warned that hospitals would once more overflow with patients if people did not adhere to standard operating procedures like social distancing, wearing masks and using sanitizers.
‘Instructions have been issued to administrations across the country to ensure that precautionary measures are followed. But like in the past, success is impossible without the cooperation of the people,’ he stressed.
He regretted that we are opening up across the country, but many people are not social distancing, many are not wearing their masks.
‘We must act responsibly, and avoid an acute national health emergency,’ he said, adding, if infections continue at this rate, we will push our health system to its limit’.
‘Efforts have been continued and the dedicated hospitals will be kept and function as usual,’ he said.
