Unnecessary public movement restricted after 8 pm

KARACHI: The Provincial Task Force on coronavirus in its extensive sitting under Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah recently reviewed the COVID situation in the country. Owing to its severity, a ban has been placed on the unnecessary movement of people, on foot or in vehicles, has after 8 pm, except for valid reasons.

The meeting was informed that during the last week (May 17 to 23, 2021), the coronavirus has gravely affected District East, where 21 per cent of the cases have been reported. Nineteen deaths were also reported from the area. District South reported 16 per cent of the cases and nine deaths, whereas District Central reported 10 per cent of the cases with 12 deaths. Hyderabad reported 11 per cent cases with 22 deaths.

According to the weekly report, Karachi has a 12.67 per cent detection rate, Hyderabad 10.79 per cent and the rest of the province 4.53 per cent. In the month of May, so far, 261 patients of the coronavirus had lost their lives which is higher than the previous months of March and April when we reported 151 and 154 deaths, respectively.

It was revealed that during the last 24 hours, Sindh has 1,529 patients, Punjab 802, KPK 470, Islamabad 106, Gilgit Baltistan 18, Balochistan 66 and AJK 69. This shows that Sindh has the highest number of COVID cases in the country, the CM said.

The Chief Minister taking policy decisions decided that people would not be allowed to move in the city without any valid reason after 8 pm. He directed the administration and the police not to allow the people to keep moving in the city without any solid reason.

Shah urged the people of the province to stay home in their interest and in the interest of others. The CM said that the shops would be closed at 6 pm and then two hours would be given to the people to return to their homes. After 8 pm, the police would place barriers on the roads to discourage unnecessary public movement. Shah directed the district administration to switch off the lights of jogging parks at 8 pm as well.