LAHORE: Punjab government has imposed a smart lockdown in various areas of Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Faisalabad, and other cities in an effort to control the rising number of coronavirus cases.
According to the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department, It said the smart lockdowns are being imposed in neighbourhoods where most of the coronavirus tests came back positive.
It stated that the smart lockdown was imposed in 26 areas of Lahore, 15 of Rawalpindi, seven of Multan, five of Layyah, four areas each of Sargodha and Faisalabad, three areas each of Gujranwala and Toba Tek Singh, and two areas of Mianwali.
The provincial healthcare department said that the government and private offices, shopping malls and restaurants will remain closed in the areas.
The government has also banned all types of public gatherings and events in the affected areas. However, hospitals, pharmacies, medical stores and laboratories will be exempted from the restriction. 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.
The Punjab Health department said the purpose of imposing the smart lockdown was to limit the movement of people from areas most affected by the coronavirus. It said that restrictions on neighbourhoods with higher COVID-19 positivity rate was the only way to save more people from contracting the illness, Capt Usman added.
If left unchecked, the second wave of the deadly coronavirus may intensify, he said, adding that only by taking precautions could the spread of the contagious disease be stopped.
Earlier on November 18, the Punjab government had imposed smart lockdown in various areas of six cities in the province. According to a notification issued by the provincial government, various localities of Lahore, Multan, Rawalpindi, Bahawalpur, Bhakkar and other cities had been placed under smart lockdown.
