Islamabad: With surge in COVID-19 cases, particularly Omicron variant, district and health authorities in Islamabad and Karachi have sealed a number of streets, localities and educational institutions to prevent the further spread of the virus.
They have imposed smart and ‘micro-smart’ lockdowns in several areas of the two cities.
According to District Health Officer (DHO) of Islamabad Dr Zaeem Zia, Islamabad’s COVID-19 positivity on Monday stood at 12.72 per cent despite the fact more than 85 per cent eligible population of the capital has been vaccinated.
In the last 24 hours, 856 persons were detected positive with COVID-19 after 6,730 tests conducted in the federal capital, Dr Zaeem said in a tweet on Monday.
We have decided to impose smart lockdowns in different areas of the city and the district health teams are trying to conduct contact-tracing and ensuring their presence in these areas, said Dr Zaeem.
So far, Islamabad’s 30 streets and 62 educational institutions have been sealed and according to Deputy Commissioner Hamza Shafqaat eight persons have also been arrested for violating the coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
The district admission has also sealed 15 businesses, he said.
Dr Zia said due to huge patient burden, delays are being experienced in the collection of samples and tracing the contacts.
“Contact tracing is hardly possible with much a higher number of cases being reported from Islamabad on a daily basis,” he said adding when somebody develops signs and symptoms of the disease, he/she should go into quarantine and consult a physician in case of complications.
Sindh reports 3,000 cases
Sindh has seen surge in COVID-19 cases and during the past 24 hours.
The province, according to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) recorded 3,120 new cases (as opposed to 2,108 in Punjab) during the last 24 hours with 2,490 reporting from Karachi alone.
Besides more than 100 cases of Omicron variant have also been reported in one day in the city.
According to the health department, Karachi’s District South has registered maximum number of new cases in past 24 hours - 811. In view of surge in cases, it has been decoded to impose micro-smart lockdowns in many parts of District Central, including Nazimabad, North Nazimabad, Gulberg, North Karachi, Liaquatabad, etc.
Deputy Commissioner (South) has imposed micro-smart lockdowns in streets/localities of Garden, Saddar, Civil Lines, Eidgah Lane, Sunset Street, DHA Phase-II, Naval Heights, Clifton Tower, Iqbal Lane, Khayaban-i-Shaheen and Boat Basin, etc.
7,000 new cases
Pakistan on Monday reported 7,195 new cases of COVID-19 after 57,401 tests conducted during last 24 hours.
According to the NCOC, this is the second day in a row when the country recorded more than 7,000 cases in a day.
On Sunday, 7,586 new cases of COVID-19 were reported.
The country’s positivity remained 12.53 per cent while there were 76,617 active cases of COVID-19 in the country, the NCOC further revealed.
