Selective lockdown: Rawalpindi considering sealing several areas

RAWALPINDI: The district administration of Rawalpindi is considering sealing additional areas in order to contain the outbreak of the novel coronavirus.

The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi were earlier included in the list of 20 major urban centres across the country where “smart lockdowns” will be imposed.

In Rawalpindi, the district administration is considering enforcing the lockdown in five areas in the city and cantonment areas which have been declared as virus hotspots.

The district administration has sought permission from the Punjab health secretary in this regard. The areas include Satellite Town D-Block, Raja Sultan neighbourhood, Union Council (UC) 26, Dheri Hasanabad, and Tulsa Road.

After obtaining approval from the Punjab government, they will deploy security personnel in the related areas to implement the lockdown. However, it has yet to be decided whether the curfew will be imposed by the army or the police.

Earlier, the district administration has decided to convert another public hospital, the Benazir Bhutto General Hospital (BBH), for treating Covid-19 critical patients.

Previously, only the Rawalpindi Institute of Urology and Kidney Transplant (RIUKT) was working as a dedicated healthcare facility for critical Covid-19 patients.