ISLAMABAD: As Covid-19 cases have been decreasing in the capital, the district administration, while easing restrictions, has decided to impose lockdown in markets and commercial centres for one day in a week for which these areas have been placed into three categories.

A notification issued from the office of Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat stated that there will be a lockdown in G-9, G-13, Sitara Market, G-15, G-10, Furniture Market Golra Road, DHA G.T. Road, Bhara Kahu, PWD, Pakistan Town, G-8, I&T Centre, G-7, Ghori Town, Khanna, Lehtrar Road, G-11, Aabpara Market and I-10 on Friday.

On Thursday, Safa Mall, Centaurus Mall, Giga Mall, Amazon Mall and other large malls and all restaurants in the capital will be closed whereas Blue Area, F-10, Melody Market, E-11, F-8, I-8, F-11, F-6, and F-7 will be closed on Sunday. All other areas and markets not mentioned in category three will also remain closed on Sunday.

The order will be implemented from June 15, the notification said.

Exemptions, during lockdown days, will only be given to essential services like pharmacies, medical stores, medical facilities, vaccination centres, petrol pumps, tandoors, milk/dairy shops, grocery stores, bakeries, poultry/meat shops, fruit/vegetable and dry fruit shops, opticians, LPG shops, auto workshops, food takeaways/home delivery, e-commerce (home delivery), utility services, internet and cellular services, call centres and media houses.

As per the notification, there will be a complete ban on all types of indoor and outdoor gatherings, including cultural, musical, religious and miscellaneous events in the capital.

Outdoor weddings will be allowed with a maximum limit of 150 guests amid strict implementation of Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs), the notification said, adding there will be a complete ban on indoor weddings and functions throughout the capital and all marriage halls, community centres, marquees and event halls will remain closed.

Outdoor dining, including at food courts in malls will be allowed till 11:59pm.

Amusement parks, swimming pools, and water sports will be allowed subject to adherence of specified SOPs to prevent virus spread. Specified SOPs include: all entertainment facilities will operate at 50pc capacity and no indoor dining, food courts and canteens will be allowed to operate.

The notification went on to say that regular chlorination of swimming pools shall be ensured, amusement parks must strictly follow social distancing protocols at entry and exit points whereas shrines will remain closed.

All public, private offices and establishments throughout the capital will resume normal working hours with 100pc attendance, however, all cinemas and theatres will remain closed in the city. There will be a complete ban on contact sports (karate, boxing, martial arts, rugby, water polo, kabaddi and wrestling), festivals, cultural, social and other events.

All gyms and indoor courts (tennis, badminton, squash etc.) will be allowed to open only for vaccinated individuals and members. Owners of gyms and indoor courts will be responsible for vaccination of staff and management.

All inter-city and intra-city public transport will operate at 70pc capacity, the notification said, adding that the two-day ban on inter-provincial public transport has been lifted.

All citizens are required to wear face masks when they are outside.

Rawalpindi

As many as 11 people tested positive for Covid-19 in the district on Tuesday whereas 20 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery during the last 24 hours. No virus-related deaths were reported in the district.

As many as 808 samples were collected for testing on Tuesday; 11 patients belong to Rawalpindi district whereas three patients are from outside the district.

In Rawalpindi district, there are 238 active patients. As many as 50 patients are in hospitals including 25 who arrived from other districts and 188 patients are home isolated. As many as 850 patients are waiting for the results of their Covid-19 serology.

Eight of the new patients are from the garrison city including five from cantonment and three patients arrived from Potohar Town while two are from Taxila. Two patients were admitted in Holy Family Hospital, seven in Benazir Bhutto Hospital (BBH), nine in Rawalpindi Institute of Urology (RIU) and seven patients are in Fauji Foundation Hospital (FFH).

There are three patients on ventilators in Rawalpindi, 12 are on oxygen support and 10 are stable.

Published in Dawn, June 16th, 2021