PESHAWAR: Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mahmood Khan has warned the public against non-observance of social distancing measures and has advised them to avoid venturing out of houses needlessly in view of the increasing incidence of Covid-19.

Like other parts of the country, the number of patients is increasing rapidly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and there is an urgent need that the people strictly adhere to physical distancing measures to stem tide of the ailment, he said in a statement issued here on Friday.

The public should strictly follow the precautionary measures in order to make themselves and others from being infected with the virus, it said.

The CM appealed to the public to realise the gravity of the situation and be careful in their day-to-day matters and social behaviour to help put brakes on the infection which was rapidly spreading among the people.

The citizens should restrict themselves to their houses, avoid crowding in markets and other public places and strictly follow the principles of social distancing, the statement said.

Mahmood Khan termed the precautionary measures and social distancing as an effective way to stay safe from the coronavirus pandemic.

He warned that even a slight negligence in that regard could lead to irreparable loss.

Khan expressed the hope that the people would extend full cooperation to the government to cope with the pandemic effectively.

Published in Dawn, May 30th, 2020