G-7, Loi Bher and Ghouri Town next to be sealed after surge in virus cases.

Byline: Aamir Yasin and Munawer Azeem

ISLAMABAD -- The capital administration has begun preparing to seal G-7, Loi Bher and Ghouri Town as the coronavirus continues to spread widely in these three hotspots.

Speaking to the press on Wednesdat, Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Hamza Shafqaat said these three areas are hotspots for the coronavirus and are the next to be sealed.

Disease transmission is high among local residents, as is the number of reported Covid-19 cases, he said. All three areas are being surveilled by health departments, which are working to seal them to limit the spread of the coronavirus.

Another hotspot, G-6, also has a high number of reported Covid-19 cases, but the transmission rate there is low because residents live in larger houses and are staying in doors, Mr Shafqaat said.

While discussing the sealing of two sub-sectors in I-8 and I-10, he said that the objective was to protect people from the coronavirus and reduce the pressure on the healthcare sector caused by the rise in Covid-19 cases.

Disease transmission and number of reported cases high in these three hotspots, DC says

He said mosques will also be closed during lockdown and only staff may pray there. Commercial centres and parks will also be closed, due to massive violations of standard operating procedures (SOP) that have been observed inmarakizand parks in both sectors, including in Kachnar Park.

Mr Shafqaat said that the total population of the four sub-sectors - I-8/3, I-8/4, I-10/1 and I-10/2, is between 16,000 and 25,000. Arrangements have been made for residents during the lockdown period, including providing mobile utility stores so they can access essential commodities.

Health workers and essential service workers will be allowed to enter locked down areas, Mr Shafqaat said. All commercial centres and offices will stay closed other than shops selling essential commodities, pharmacies and grocery stores, bakeries and dairy and meat shops.

The lockdown will begin at 12:01am on Thursday and continue until Monday evening, when the situation regarding the spread of the coronavirus will be reevaluated.

He said that more than 200 cases and one death was reported from these areas in the last three days, and SOP violations were observed during the funeral of the deceased patient as well.

Southern parts of the capital, including I-8 and I-10, adjoin Rawalpindi, which also has a high number of Covid-19 cases. These two sectors also have a few bus terminals which...

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