Lahore: Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid on Monday announced the Punjab government’s decision to impose a complete lockdown in certain areas of the city as a precautionary measure to curtail the rising, local spread of COVID-19 — according to a news report.
Dr Rashid stated that a number of areas in Lahore would be put under lockdown after 12 AM on Tuesday (June 16). These areas include Shahdra, Shad Bagh, Mazang, Harbanspura, Old Lahore, Nishtar Ground, and Cantt. Some areas of Gulberg, Model Town, Garden Town, and Iqbal Town will also be closed down.
The areas for Gulberg include E1 Block, Zafar Ali Road, Zahoor Elahi Road, Blocks A3, B2, B3, and B1.
The areas for Model Town include Blocks B, C, G, H, K, and N.
The areas for Garden Town include Blocks Abu Bakr, Tipu, Ahmad, and Shershah.
Reportedly, the lockdown will remain in place for 2 weeks and the sealed areas will only be reopened after reassessment by the authorities concerned. However, food stores and pharmacies will remain open throughout this period.
During this time, the minister urged the people to wear masks and follow all the standard operating procedures (SOPs) formulated to contain the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. She added that the infection rate could be cut down by 50% by just using a facemask.
As per the information available, these measures have been put in place after the city recorded a total of 27,000 COVID-19 cases — the second highest in the country after Karachi.
