LARKANA: Larkana police on Friday rounded up 50 people in action against violators of the standard operating procedures (SOPs) prescribed by the Sindh government to control spread of coronavirus in the province.

Police teams headed by SSP Imran Qureshi enforced ‘smart lockdown’ in various localities and patrolled streets of Larkana to prevent people from violating the SOPs. Shopkeepers in the locked-down areas were forced to pull down the shutters and those in other areas were made to comply with the closure timings.

People found defying the SOPs, including wearing face masks, were picked up and taken to police stations.

Sources in the health department said on Friday that Covid-19 positive cases were registering a surge in this district and this was increasing load on hospitals, medical staff and intensive care unit for such patients at the Chandka Medical College Hospital. The number of beds at the ICU had to be increased from 24 to 86, CMCH medical superintendent Dr Abdul Hameed Soomro told Dawn on Friday. “At present, 36 patients are under treatment at the ICU and one of them died late on Thursday evening,” he said.

SUKKUR: Police carried out snap checking along various roads in Sukkur district and impounded 30 passenger buses, coaches and other vehicles over violation of SOPs by travellers.

Cases were registered against owners of the public transport vehicles, officials of the district administration said on Friday.

They said 16 shops were sealed in different areas of Sukkur city over violation of the SOPs by their owners or operators.

Deputy Commissioner Rana Adeel Tasawwur inspected public and private transport vehicles and warned their owners and crew to strictly follow the SOPs or face action.

SSP Irfan Ali Sammo directed all the DSPs and SHOs in the district to visit localities in their areas to monitor observance of the SOPs.

He ordered that prompt action be taken against violators without caring for their status. People be made to observe the opening and closure timings of shops, markets, bazaars and malls, he added.

HYDERABAD: Commissioner Abbas Baloch has directed the officers concerned to ensure strict implementation of the SOPs at crowded markets and business places across Hyderabad division.

He noted that the surge in coronavirus cases in the ongoing third wave was due to non-compliance of SOPs.

The commissioner was chairing a meeting on the subject at Shahbaz Hall on Friday. Army officials also attended the meeting.

He directed the officers to make people aware of the vaccine against coronavirus and also make them ensure social distancing, wear face masks and use sanitisers. He said a complete ban on indoor services at hotels must be ensured.

DC Fuad Ghaffar Soomro told the meeting that masks were being distributed to people on roads and in mosques with the help of army on Friday. Spray was made at the entrance and exits of mosques, he added.

Provincial director general of health Dr Irshad Memon gave a briefing to the participants about the steps taken to deal with the fresh wave of coronavirus.

Published in Dawn, May 1st, 2021