Lahore: Smart lockdown imposed in coronavirus hotspot areas

In the Lahore district, the Punjab government enforced a smart lockdown, restricting the entry and exit of people on Tuesday in some areas of the city identified as “coronavirus hotspots”

“There has been a constant increase in positivity percentage and prevalence of COVID-19 in the Province of Punjab during last two weeks which poses a serious and imminent threat to public health,” read a notification from the Primary and Secondary Health Department issued today.

According to the provincial government, the lockdown has been implemented till January 10, 2021, in targeted areas of the city.

According to the health department’s guidelines:

• All markets, shopping malls, restaurants, offices (public and private) shall remain closed in the areas identified
• There shall be a complete ban on movement of people to and from these areas by public and private transport except for limited movement of one person per vehicle to and from the exempted facilities
• There shall also be a complete ban on gatherings of all kinds for social, religious, or any other purpose at any place, public or private throughout these areas.

In the closed areas the following shall be exempted from this order:

(a). Grocery stores, general/karyana stores, aata chakkis, fruit and vegetable shops, tandoors & petrol pumps. These shall remain open from 9:00 AM to 7:00 PM, throughout the week.

(b). All medical services, pharmacies and medical stores, laboratories and collection points, hospitals, clinics and bakeries shall remain open 24/7 throughout the week.

(c). Milk shops, chicken and meat/fish shops will remain open from 7:00AM to 7:00PM throughout the week.