Mirpur put under one-week lockdown from Monday.

Byline: Tariq Naqash

MUZAFFARABAD -- Amid an alarming spike in Covid-19 cases in Mirpur district of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), the local administration announced a one-week lockdown in the district from Monday.

All educational institutions will remain closed for two weeks and other religious, political and social activities have also been banned, according to an order issued by office of the Deputy Commissioner Badar Munir.

District Health Officer (DHO) Mirpur Dr Fida Hussain told Dawn that tests of 4,334 persons were conducted in Mirpur this month, out of whom 470 turned out to be positive while in January 266 out of 2,697 persons tested positive.

Around 28 people lost their lives in February alone, he said, adding there are 326 active cases in the district currently and 24 of them are hospitalised while the rest are under home isolation.

A total lockdown became inevitable in the lakeside district as there were no signs of the disease abating, DC Munir said adding: 'The administration and health department tried their best to contain the infection, but the sharp increase in Covid-19 cases, particularly over the past two weeks, has baffled everyone; resultantly leaving us with no choice but to take some harsh measures.'

He expressed the hope that people would cooperate with the administration in the interest of their own safety.

The order issued by his office declared that the lockdown would remain in force from 6am on Monday until 12...