TARIQ SAEED PESHAWAR As seven new cases of Covid-19 were reported in KP taking the tally to 38 in the province, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Monday announced measures close to the total lock-down that includes public holidays all over the province till March 28. Besides, all the shopping malls, markets, hotels and restaurants have been ordered complete shut down while plying of public transport in all the districts of KP has also been banned initially for five days till March 28. In the wake of spread of the Corona Virus the KP government through a notification issued here Monday ordered that all the government offices would remain closed till March 28 means-by a weeklong public holiday as Sunday is already off day. According to Ajmal Wazir the CM KP advisor on Information, the plying of all public transport that include busses, vans, taxies and even rickshaws have been banned in all the districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, whereas, the Inter-district transport is already banned. The shopping malls, markets, hotels and restaurants have been strictly ordered to observer complete closure with kitchens to remain shut and no takeaway or delivery of foods. However, the order will not be applicable to pharmacies, grocery stores, milk shops, petrol pumps, fruit, and vegetable and meat shops. The Advisor while giving Monday’s updates of the Covid-19, said seven new cases were reported on Monday with three from Peshawar, two from Karak district and one each from Mansehra and Buner. He said 235 new suspects have been reported from KP adding so for 120 cases reported negative and result of 290 cases is yet to be received. In the meanwhile Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan chaired a special meeting of the Provincial Task Force on Covid-19 on Monday. High ups of health and relief departments briefed the forum regarding the latest situation of Corona virus in the province and arrangements made by the provincial government to minimize its possible outbreak. The meeting was also briefed about the expected scenario of Corona in the upcoming days and preparedness level of various departments of the provincial government to effectively deal with any expected situation. Various options and suggestions to minimize social contacts and unnecessary movement of general public were discussed threadbare and it was decided that the government would take any decision on need basis to control the possible outbreak of the virus at mass scale. The meeting was also briefed about the purchase and supply of necessary equipment with special focus on the protective clothing for the health workers dealing with the Corona patients. Accompanied by Minister Health Taimur Saleem Jhagra, Ajmal Wazir, and top civil officers the Chief Minister also paid a visit to the newly established Quarantine Centre in the premises of Postgraduate Medical Institute Doran Pur in the vicinity of Peshawar to review the arrangements made for suspected Corona patients. The Chief Minister was briefed that the center has a capacity to accommodate 150 individuals which could be increased if need arises. Separate rooms have been spared for every individual with wash room facility and other basic requirements. The Chief Minister was also informed that as precautionary measures staff members deputed in the center have voluntarily restricted themselves to the premises.. MeanwhiletheChiefMinister also paid a visit to Command & Control Centre setup at Deputy Commissioner Peshawar office. While briefing the Chief Minister about the Centre, Deputy Commissioner Peshawar told that the centerwas equippedwithmodern onlinetechnology and GIS mapping facility wherein personnel of District Administration, Health department, Police and security agencies perform duties round the clock. It was further informed that the center has 24/7 rapid response team to respond to any emergency situation well in time.
