ISLAMABAD: Residents of two sub-sectors in I-8 and I-10 have been given 24 hours before their localities and marakaz will be sealed.

A notification has been issued by the capital administration, according to which I-8/3, I-8/4, I-10/1 and I-10/2 will be sealed at midnight on June 18.

Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat has given residents a day to store essential commodities that they can use during the lockdown.

He said that the notification to seal these areas was issued after a security plan was devised along with plans to provide medical assistance to confirmed and suspected Covid-19 patients and commodities to local residents in the event of a shortage.

Residents given a day to obtain essential commodities, will be informed of lockdown through announcements today

Residents of these areas will also be informed of the impending lockdown through announcements today (Wednesday) so they can make the necessary arrangements, he said.

A notification issued from the office of the deputy commissioner stated that I-8/3, I-8/4, I-8 Markaz, I-10/1, I-10/2 and I-10 Markaz are being sealed to prevent the community spread of the coronavirus under the Epidemic Diseases Control Act with effect from 12am on June 18.

Exemptions to this order include essential services and supplies such as pharmacies, grocery stores and bakeries, people requiring medical aid, rationing and drinking water supplies. These exemptions will be regulated by standard operating procedures issued by the deputy commissioner’s office.

The police, Rangers and army have been asked to cordon off these areas to ensure public safety and limit the spread of the coronavirus.

I-8 has reported 459 cases and one death so far, along with 42 recoveries, while I-10 has reported 430 cases, five deaths and 74 recoveries.

Other parts of Islamabad have also been identified as coronavirus hotspots, administration officials said, and are under surveillance by healthcare teams to decide whether they should be sealed.

These areas are Lohi Bher,G-8, G-7, G-6, G-10, Bhara Kahu and Tarlai. So far, 578 cases and five deaths have been reported from Lohibher, 379 cases and three deaths from G-8, 367 cases and nine deaths reported from G-7, 355 cases and three deaths reported from G-6, 345 cases and three deaths reported from G-10, 343 cases and two deaths are reported from Bhara Kahu and 341 cases and three deaths reported from Tarlai.

G-11, F-6, G-13, E-11, F-11, Chak Shahzad, Sohan and Khanna are also emerging as hotspots and are under surveillance as well.

Since the outbreak began, 246 cases and two deaths have been reported from G-11, 229 cases and four deaths from F-6, 229 cases and five deaths from G-13, 214 cases and three deaths from E-11, 204 cases from F-11, 202 cases and two deaths from Chak Shahzad, 202 and four deaths from Sohan and 201 cases and one death from Khanna.

Published in Dawn, June 17th, 2020