The government authorities have sealed 10 streets in two sectors of Islamabad, after the emergence of 50 confirmed coronavirus cases in the capital.
DAWN reported that 10 streets in two I-10 sub-sectors were sealed in a couple of last days as 50 cases have been reported from sector I-10/1 and I-10/4 to date. Last week, the administration sealed both sub-sectors entirely because of the high prevalence of Covid-19.
However, after witnessing the inconvenience of residents, the administration unsealed both sub-sectors on Saturday and decided to seal the three streets in I-10/4 that had the highest number of cases. On Sunday, another seven streets were sealed after nine more cases were reported.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat told the newspaper that the administration decided to seal streets rather than whole sub-sectors even though cases were reported from different parts of both I-10/1 and I-10/4 because “almost 30 cases were reported from four streets”.
The DC said the decision to seal both sub-sectors was made after 38 Covid-19 cases were reported there, but this was replaced in pursuit of a ‘smart lockdown’ policy under which three I-10/4 streets were sealed. “However, as four cases were reported on Saturday and nine on Sunday, it was decided to seal seven more streets in the sub-sectors,” he said. The administration has directed the police, army and Rangers to cordon off areas for public safety.
Hamza Shafqaat said that entry and exit is banned when a street is sealed. “We usually provide edibles such as vegetables and flour for free, but in some cases people pay for edible items. Once the areas are cleared the streets will be unsealed,” he said. When asked, he said that nearly two dozen cases are being reported in Islamabad every day.
DAWN reported that 10 streets in two I-10 sub-sectors were sealed in a couple of last days as 50 cases have been reported from sector I-10/1 and I-10/4 to date. Last week, the administration sealed both sub-sectors entirely because of the high prevalence of Covid-19.
However, after witnessing the inconvenience of residents, the administration unsealed both sub-sectors on Saturday and decided to seal the three streets in I-10/4 that had the highest number of cases. On Sunday, another seven streets were sealed after nine more cases were reported.
Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat told the newspaper that the administration decided to seal streets rather than whole sub-sectors even though cases were reported from different parts of both I-10/1 and I-10/4 because “almost 30 cases were reported from four streets”.
The DC said the decision to seal both sub-sectors was made after 38 Covid-19 cases were reported there, but this was replaced in pursuit of a ‘smart lockdown’ policy under which three I-10/4 streets were sealed. “However, as four cases were reported on Saturday and nine on Sunday, it was decided to seal seven more streets in the sub-sectors,” he said. The administration has directed the police, army and Rangers to cordon off areas for public safety.
Hamza Shafqaat said that entry and exit is banned when a street is sealed. “We usually provide edibles such as vegetables and flour for free, but in some cases people pay for edible items. Once the areas are cleared the streets will be unsealed,” he said. When asked, he said that nearly two dozen cases are being reported in Islamabad every day.