LAHORE: While granting approval to hold annual Raiwind religious congregation with the participation of 54,000 followers, the Punjab government has enforced smart lockdown in 830 areas of the province.

On Monday, the government reported 283 new positive cases of the virus in a day, the highest number recorded since July in the province so far.

Three people died from the virus complications in a day in Punjab, according to the health department.

The number of critical patients is increasing as 15 such patients were under treatment at the intensive care units of public and private hospitals of Lahore.

Up to 19 hospitals have been notified by the Punjab government for the specific treatment of critical patients of Covid-19.

In the related development, the government granted approval to organize the annual Tablighi Ijtama (mass gathering) at Raiwind being held from Nov 6 to 8. International participants have been banned from attending the Raiwind congregation.

Of the 54,000 invited participants, 6,000 are from Lahore, 9,600 from Peshawar, 6,000 each from Multan and Balochistan, 4,800 from Faisalabad, 9,600 from Karachi, and 6,000 each from DG Khan and Swat.The districts/cities with test positivity rates averaging more than 5% for more than a week would not be invited to the ijtema.

“Outdoor gathering only are strongly recommended during the Ijtama in which individuals should remain spaced at least six feet apart,” reads the document.

Children and participants at higher risk for severe illness would not be allowed to the gathering too.

The district leaders of the Jamaat would ensure the symptomatic screening of all the participants at the point of origin before departure.

“If any intended traveler is having symptoms of Covid-19 or contact of Covid positive person in last 14 days, they should be tested and only allowed to participate if tests negative for Covid”, reads the document. It will be mandatory to wear face masks in the gathering.The Tablighi gathering and other congregations during the epidemic should be organized while taking care of the precautions and SOPs pertaining to gatherings to avoid the chances of spread.

About the lockdown, the official documents states that the Punjab government has restricted movement of 3,332 people by imposing smart lockdown in 830 areas of the province.

The step was initiated following some reports about the presence of 1416 confirmed cases of coronavirus.

Most of the smart lockdowns were enforced in Lahore, where 435 areas were sealed by the district government and the police while restricting movement of 1,266 residents followed by Rawalpindi where 47 localities were sealed affecting the movement of 334 residents.

Similarly, lockdowns were imposed in 44 areas of Multan, 37 of Bahawalpur, 35 of Bhakkar, 34 of Faisalabad, 29 of Gujrat, 24 of Sargodha, 17 of DG Khan, 16 of Sahiwal, 14 areas in Gujranwala.

An official of the health department said that the recent upsurge in the new confirmed cases in Punjab has raised the eyebrows of the authorities who believed that the blatant violation of the standard operating procedure and guidelines have been one of the major reasons behind the fast transmission of the virus.

Published in Dawn, November 3rd, 2020