KARACHI: As 15 more patients of coronavirus died overnight in Sindh and 1,615 new cases emerged, the local administration in Karachi on Thursday extended lockdown in parts of district Central for the next two weeks, said a statement from the Commissioner Karachi office.

It said that as per the decision of the deputy commissioner Central a few localities in different blocks of Federal B. Area and some in North Nazimabad and Nazimabad were spotted as new hotspots.

Under the standard operating procedures (SOPs) all commercial facilities, business centres, expo halls, all contact sports, indoor sports clubs, indoor gyms and sports facilities, sporting tournaments, indoor and outdoor restaurants, cafés excluding takeaway and home delivery, theme parks, amusement parks and arcades, beauty parlours and spas, cinemas and theatres, public processions/gatherings of all nature would remain closed in the mentioned areas.

“In F.B. Area localities in Blocks 2, 3, 8, 10, 12, 13, 14 and 18 would remain sealed till December 16,” said an official citing the fresh notification. “Similarly, a few streets of Blocks B, C, D, G, L and N were mentioned in the notification. Areas in Nazimabad No. 1, 3 and 4 and Firdous Colony of the neighbourhood would also remain sealed. In North Karachi parts of Sectors 11-A, 11-B and 5-C-1 would face the same restrictions.”

He said that the provincial government and district administration, by an order, could restrict all or any activity in areas which were hotspots for the spread of Covid-19.

Published in Dawn, December 4th, 2020