District admin unable to seal emerging coronavirus hotspots.

RAWALPINDI -- The district administration is planning to seal Pirwadhai and its adjoining areas after initially locking down 22 localities in the garrison city. However, the shortage of police personnel means that Pirwadhai will not be sealed for another week or two.

Deputy Commissioner retired Capt Anwarul Haq told Dawn that 22 localities have already been sealed, and the administration has found more coronavirus hotspots but does not have enough police personnel to set up check posts.

According to the standard operating procedures issued by the Punjab government, a sub-divisional police officer and 30 constables are required to be stationed at each check post in and around a sealed area to restrict public movement.

Mr Haq said the administration has surveyed and identified more hotspots, but cannot enforce lockdowns in all these areas at the same time because of the absence of personnel.

He added that the government also does not want to halt business activities in cities because this would lead to unemployment.

He added that the number of Covid-19 patients in the city and district has risen overall.

`As many as 776 patients were reported from Rawalpindi district from June 12 to June 18, which isthe highest number since March 20,` he said, adding that another 313 patients were detected between June 19 and June 21, with the rise in cases expected to continue.

Mr Haq said 13,300 suspected patients were reported in the district between March 20 and June 21, of whom 4,646 tested positive and 7,875 negative, while 213 people have died and 2,510 have recovered.

There have been 2,140 patients from Rawal Town, 847 from Potohar Town and 1,050 from Rawalpindi`s cantonment areas. Another 29 patients have been reported in Murree, 25 in Kallar Syedan, 59 each in Kotli Sattian and Kahuta. 215 in Taxila and 222 in Gujar Khan.

The deputy commissioner also said that people will be penalised for not wearing masks in public which the Punjab government has made mandatory starting today (Monday).

Also on Sunday, another 159 people were diagnosed with Covid-19 while one patient died and 77 people recovered. There have now been 4,646 confirmed patients in the district, with 213 deaths and 2,510 recoveries.

At present, 738 patients from all the seven tehsils of Rawalpindi including Gujar Khan, Taxila, Murree, Kotli Sattian, Kalar Syedan and Kahuta are being treated at the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology, Holy Family Hospital and Benazir Bhutto Hospital while...