Punjab govt ends coronavirus lockdown
Last updated on: 03 August,2020 04:26 am
The decision was taken following encouraging results from smart samples taken from cattle market.
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Punjab government ended the coronavirus lockdown imposed across the province at 12:00 midnight (night between Sunday and Monday), Dunya News reported.
According to sources, Secretary Primary and Secondary Healthcare Captain (r) Muhammad Usman issued a notification on this important issue.
The decision has been taken following encouraging results from smart samples taken from cattle markets.
Permission to hold a solidarity rally with Kashmiris on August 5 is also expected.
It is pertinent here to mention that Punjab government had imposed smart lockdown in the province, including Lahore, at 12:00 midnight (night between Monday and Tuesday) to limit the spread of coronavirus during Eidul Azha holidays.
According to a notification issued in this regard, all markets, shopping malls, business and commercial centres will remain closed till August 5. However, essential food items shops, medical stores, general stores, tandoors, petrol pumps, bakeries, vegetable shops and emergency service shops will remain open across the province.
The notification further stated that all educational and training institutes, marriage halls, business centres, expo halls, restaurants (except takeaway and home delivery, theme parks, public parks, beauty parlors, cinemas and theatres will remain shut.
This decision to impose smart lockdown in the province till August 5 was taken in a meeting of the coronavirus Cabinet Committee chaired by Law Minister Raja Basharat at the Chief Minister’s House in which Mian Aslam Iqbal and other ministers participated.
On the other hand, Pakistan has confirmed 6 deaths in last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 279,699. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 5,976, Dunya News reported on Sunday.
According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) only 553 persons have been tested positive for COVID-19 in 24 hours.
Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.
Till now 121,309 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 93,173 in Punjab, 34,160 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 15,052 in Islamabad, 11,762 in Balochistan, 2,086 in Azad Kashmir and 2,157 in Gilgit-Baltistan.
On the other hand, 248,577 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country.