Punjab govt imposes lockdown in nine cities as COVID-19 cases surge

The Punjab government has imposed a smart lockdown in nine more cities as COVID-19 cases surge.

According to a notification issued by retired Captain Muhammad Usman, the secretary of Punjab’s Primary & Secondary Health Care Department (P&SHD), the smart lockdowns are being imposed in neighbourhoods where most of the coronavirus tests came back positive.

As per the notification, there will be controlled exit and entry till December 8 in the areas under lockdown,

A smart lockdown has been imposed in 26 areas of Lahore, 15 of Rawalpindi, 7 of Multan, 4 areas each of Sargodha and Faisalabad, 5 of Layyah, three areas each of Gujranwala and Toba Tek Singh, and 2 areas of Mianwali.

All shopping malls, restaurants, and private and public offices would remain closed in the areas under lockdown, according to the notification. All kinds of gatherings will be completely banned in the aforementioned areas as well.

Furthermore, the transportation of residents of the locked-down areas would be limited and only one person on a ride may be allowed outside in urgent or emergency cases. 

However, all medical services, pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, collection points, hospitals, and clinics would be open 24 hours a day.

Milk shops, meat sellers, and bakeries would be allowed to open from 7 am to 7 pm every day, while grocery stores, general stores, flour mills, fruit and vegetable sellers, naan shops, and petrol pumps would open from 9 am to 7 pm every day.