QUETTA: A complete lockdown has been imposed in Gwadar and Kech districts because of resurgence of the novel coronavirus.

A notification issued on Friday evening said the lockdown had been enforced after cases of Covid-19 had increased rapidly in different areas of Makran and especially in the port city of Gwadar.

It said that all shops, hotels and restaurants will remain closed for the next 15 days with the exception of some shops having essential items in both the districts and only those people who have been vaccinated and adhering to Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be allowed in the exempted shops.

The notification said that all fish markets would also remain closed and only vaccinated fishermen would be allowed for fishing in the sea.

The entry of tourists, visitors and members of Tablighi Jamaat has been banned with immediate effect after the most contagious Indian Delta variant has spread in these districts.

All parks and playgrounds in the districts have been closed while all gatherings — political and religious — have also been banned in the coastal city and Kech district of Makran division.

Reports reaching here suggested that the Pasni administration has also imposed lockdown in the coastal town and asked the people to restrict their movement.

Gwadar Deputy Commissioner retired Major Abdul Kabir Khan Zarkoon has presided over a meeting which reviewed the overall Covid-19 situation and expressed serious concern about increasing coronavirus cases. According to the health officials, at least 63 new cases of Covid-19 have been reported during the past 24 hours. They put the total number of the infected people in Balochistan at 29,041.

The death toll has also increased to 322 across the province as one more patient succumbed to the deadly virus.

Meanwhile, Balochistan High Court Chief Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail took serious notice of the spread of Covid-19 in Makran division, and directed the provincial health secretary to take every possible step to stop the situation from deteriorating.

The health department must ensure immediate shipment of additional Covid-19 test kits and necessary medicines, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 25th, 2021