LAHORE: In the wake of the raging British-variant coronavirus, the Punjab government has decided to enforce ‘strict lockdown’ in districts with more than 12 per cent infection rate from April 1 to 11. The educational institutions will also remain closed till April 11.

The Punjab government has imposed a complete ban on indoor and outdoor wedding events whereas hotels and restaurants will remain shut. It also decided to close down the mass transit system [train, bus service], sports, cultural and social gatherings. Markets and bazaars will be closed at 6pm with two-day weekly break.

The Punjab government, however, did not close industries and businesses to ensure that people should continue earning their livelihood.

Outdoor wedding events also banned; Orange train, Metro bus service closed; markets to shut at 6pm

This was announced by Usman Buzdar at a news conference following a meeting of the cabinet committee on corona control at the chief minister’s secretariat on Monday.

Flanked by health minister Dr Yasmin Rashid and SACM Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan, Buzdar said the third wave was more intense than the first two waves and added that the positivity rate had jumped to 14pc in the province and 21pc in Lahore during the past 24 hours.

The CM said most of the Covid cases had been reported from Lahore, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Rawalpindi, Sargodha, Faisalabad and Multan.

He said the government felt compelled not to close down industries and businesses just because people would be at loss without jobs and work on a daily basis. He said the government was not even in favour of restrictions but it would not be possible to avoid the virus without the cooperation of the people.

The chief minister said 2,309 more positive cases had been reported during the past 24 hours. He said the total number of active cases had reached 23,106 and 252 among them were critical. He said 6,244 people had already died of coronavirus including 39 patients, who lost their lives during the last 24 hours.

Mr Buzdar said the cabinet committee decided not to put restrictions on economic activities and added that industries, goods transport and construction industries would continue their work according to the routine while ensuring SOPs.

The chief minister said the 11-day lockdown in over 12pc positivity rate districts would be reviewed after seven days.

He announced banning indoor and outdoor dining in hotels and restaurants while takeaways and home delivery service would continue. He said sports, cultural, social and other gatherings would completely be banned along with parks.

He said the Punjab government had a capacity to conduct over 15,000 tests every day at its 22 BSL-III labs in the province.

The CM said 126 vaccination centres were working across the province and 121,527 healthcare workers had been given the first dose, while 54,885 healthcare workers had been given the second jab. Similarly, he said 151,447 citizens of over 60 years of age had been vaccinated as well.

To a question, he asserted that legal action would be initiated in case of violation of SOPs adding that the chief secretary and IGP had been instructed to personally monitor the observance of Covid precautions.

Replying to a question, school education minister Murad Raas said schools had been closed only in nine districts and children in other 26 districts were attending their schools regularly.

Regarding teachers staging a sit-in outside the chief minister house, Mr Rass said he had committed with a 14-member delegation that he would discuss their demands with the PPSC and the law department and later brief the teachers during April 5-9.

Published in Dawn, March 30th, 2021