COVID-19: Sindh govt extends ‘smart’ lockdown till July 15

KARACHI: Sindh government has extended smart lockdown in the province for 15 days to limit the spread of COVID-19.

According to a notification, the lockdown will be enforced till July 15. All businesses will open five days a week while they will remain closed on weekends (Saturday and Sunday).

As part of the Sindh government’s notification, traders will be permitted to resume business activities from 6: 00 am to 7:00 pm. Furthermore, only pharmacies and essential services will be permitted to open on Saturdays and Sundays.

While the timings of home delivery of food and other items have been extended till 11:00 pm.

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— GOS-COVID19 (@19sindh) July 1, 2020

Earlier, in wake of rising cases of COVID-19 across the country, the government had decided to lock down sensitive areas in Karachi.

The government identified hotspots in the light of the report of the deputy commissioners. Traffic will be restricted in restricted areas during the lockdown.

Pakistan has reported 4,133 new COVID-19 cases in the last 24 hours, taking the nationwide tally to 213,470, while the number of fatalities reached 4,395 after 91 people died of the disease in the country.

Out of the total number of infections, Sindh reported 84,640, around 76,262, in Punjab, 26,598 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 10,476 in Balochistan, 12,912 Islamabad, 1,489 in Gilgit Baltistan and 1,093 in Azad Kashmir.

Out of a total of 4,395 deaths, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reported 951 deaths, Sindh 1,337, Balochistan 121, Gilgit-Baltistan 26, Punjab 1,762, Azad Kashmir 30 and Islamabad Capital Territory has reported 128 deaths.