Punjab Govt on Monday issued a statement regarding lockdown in the province in the coming days. The province is imposing a ‘smart lockdown’, effective from midnight tonight till August 5, in order to secure the spread of the coronavirus during Eidul Azha holidays.
This major rule imposed in Punjab is reported in respect of zero deaths for the first time in two months. The official daily report of confirmed Covid-19 cases in the province of Punjab has fallen down below 500 over the last one week.
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In a notification issued by the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on July 27, all educational institutes and training centers, marriage halls, business centers, expo centers, hotels/cafes, recreational/amusement parks, play areas, salons and spas, cinemas and theatres will be kept closed and non-operational.
There will be a complete ban imposed on sports activities and matches (both indoor and outdoor) except playing on a personal level without trainers is allowed to maintain required protocols.
The notification further stated that a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds i.e, social, religious or any other purpose at any place, public or private is imposed.
“All shopping centers, retail markets, shops, malls and plazas shall remain closed in the province”. However, on an exceptional basis, some pharmacies, postal services, petrol pumps and takeaway/home delivery for restaurants will be allowed to operate for 24 hours.
Grocery stores, bakeries, small shops, fruit and vegetable shops, meat and milk shops, and tandoors are allowed to operate their daily activities from 6am to 12am. Public transport will be allowed to operate within the city and district round-the-clock.
On Sunday, Punjab Chief Secretary Jawwad Rafique Malik gave a statement that our utmost priority of ‘smart lockdown’ is to save human lives. We ensure that the government will take all possible steps, and ensure strict implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) in cattle markets(mandis), to protect the spread of Covid-19.
The Punjab chief secretary had concluded ‘smart lockdowns’ in Lahore and other cities in the province earned positive results and reported coronavirus cases had dropped after that.