PESHAWAR: The authorities sealed 22 schools in Peshawar, Swabi and Mansehra on Thursday for violation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

In Peshawar, the district administration continued crackdown on violators of SOP in different parts of the city and inspected schools, wedding halls, shops, BRT stations and restaurants.

The officials inspected different establishments on Bara Road, Pishtakhara, GT Road and Hayatabad, said a statement.

It said that during the crackdown, about 12 schools and 13 restaurants were sealed by the district administration.

It said that officials also fined 62 commuters for not wearing masks during their inspection of BRT stations while 147 persons were fined for the same in different bazaars of the city.

Authorities also sealed general stores in Hayatabad for violation of SOPs.

In Swabi, the administration sealed seven schools and warned the owners that no one was allowed to violate the order of the government about closure of schools due to surge in coronavirus cases.

The officials sealed the schools when they found the educational institutions open during the raid. They said that the raids would continue to implement the government order and none of the schools would be allowed to remain open.

In addition, the hostels kept open by private schools were also closed by the district administration.

However, in some areas students were seen going to their schools. Local people said that some schools were open in the hometown of Minister for Education Shahram Khan Tarakai.

An official of education department, when contacted, said that they would not allow any school to remain open. In Mansehra, the administration sealed three schools following students and teachers of those educational institutions tested positive for coronavirus.

According to a statement, issued by the office of deputy commissioner, the sealed schools are situated in Mansehra and Garhi Habibullah. The deputy commissioner also ordered the department concerned to disinfect the buildings of the schools where students and teachers were tested positive for Covid-19.

More than 723 senior citizens have been vaccinated against coronavirus in the district.

The district has so far received 1,180 jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine. About 546 senior citizens were administered the vaccine in King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra, 115 in Oghi civil hospital and 62 got the vaccine in Balakot civil hospital.

Published in Dawn, March 19th, 2021