Zubair Qureshi
With the increase in the number of coronavirus cases, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has decided to impose a smart lockdown in the areas adversely affected by the virus.
Deputy Commissioner of Islamabad Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat on Saturday issued a notification sealing several streets of the federal capital on the recommendation of the District Health Officer (DHO) to scheck the community spread of Covid-19 in the city.
According to the notification, streets no. 30, 39, 48, 92 and 104 in the Sector G-6/1, street 23 in G-6/2, streets no. 10 and 58 in Sector G-7/2 and streets 68, 74, 75 and 123 in Sector G-9/3 will have restricted movement/controlled entry and exit w.e.f September 11, Saturday 7:00 p.m. until further order.
Likewise, street no. 25-A in G-10/2, streets 33, 42, 43, 44 and 71 in Sector G-11/2, streets 34, 45 and 48 in Sector G-13/2, streets 32 and 40 in F-7/1, streets no. 17 and 18 in F-10/2, streets 9 and 138 in Sector E-11/2, streets no 85 and 86 in Sector I-8/4, streets 34 and 35 in Sector I-9/4 and street no. 3 in Sector I-10/2 have been restricted for public entry and exit.
In all there are twenty-five streets in various sectors of Islamabad where the Islamabad admin has imposed restrictions and these curbs will remain enforced till further orders.
However, there will be exemptions to this order that include essential services and medicine shops, grocery stores and bakeries, patients for medical aid/consultation, rationing, drinking water supplies, utilities and emergencies.
The notification further says, these exemptions shall be regulated by the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) issued by the admin office from time to time.
The federal capital against 4,529 tests conducted in the last twenty-four hours reported 254 new cases of Covid-19. Two deaths were also reported during this period.
Islamabad’s positivity rate was 5.61 per cent on Saturday, With these latest additions, Islamabad’s total number of cases has climbed to 102,347 and the toll reached 886.
Similarly, the city has seen 96,669 recoveries so far, according to the National Command & Operation Centre.
DHO Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia while talking to Pakistan Observer said Sunday is meant exclusively for the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine and those whose second dose is due but they have not yet received any text should approach their nearest vaccination centre without waiting for the text. They will be administered the shots, he said.
