LAHORE: The Punjab health authorities today (Tuesday) have enforced ‘smart lockdown’ in almost 55 neighbourhoods of Lahore, which have been identified as COVID-19 hotspots.
The development came a day after the health department told a meeting of the Punjab apex committee that the current COVID-19 situation was the same as it was in June when the infection was at its peak in the province.
According to a notification, the health department said there had been a constant increase in the positivity percentage and prevalence of COVID-19 in Punjab during last two weeks which poses a serious and imminent threat to public health.
“As a result, controlled entry and exit has been enforced at 55 localities in Lahore’s Data Gunj Baksh Town, Shalimar Town, Samnabad Town, Aziz Bhatti Town and Allama Iqbal Town till December 21 with immediate effect,” it added.
Residents will not be allowed to leave their houses unless absolutely necessary. It will be mandatory for people to wear face masks at all public places. Hospitals, medical stores and clinics will remain open for 24 hours a day throughout the week.
Lahore, with 60,755 coronavirus cases, accounts for almost half of total Punjab’s 124,191 infections since the pandemic began. The city recorded 149 cases and 13 deaths from the virus on December 7.
In the last 24 hours, 89 people passed away from the novel coronavirus while 2,885 new cases were reported countrywide. Experts have warned that Pakistan is presently battling the second wave of the deadly virus.
