COVID-19: Punjab to impose complete lockdown from May 8 to 16

COVID-19: Punjab to impose complete lockdown from May 8 to 16

Lahore (Web Desk): The Punjab government has decided to impose a complete lockdown in the province from May 8 to May 16 in order to avoid increase in coronavirus cases.

According to details, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid chaired a meeting to review the overall situation in the province regarding COVID-19.

During the meeting, it was decided that public movement will be restricted while pillion riding would as be banned in the province.

The restaurants and tourist places will be closed completely while only essential services will be allowed to remain open during the lockdown.

Public transport will be suspended and all recreational spots will also remain closed.

The Punjab government said that checkpoints will be set up at all the entry and exit points of the city, where police, Rangers and army personnel will be deployed to monitor the situation.

"In order to control the coronavirus situation in the province, the next 20 days are crucial," Dr Rashid said, adding that the government is employing efforts to curb the spread of the virus.

She urged to celebrate Eid-ul-Fitr in a simple way, adding that people should follow the government's mandated COVID-19 standard operating procedure (SOPs) and prove themselves to be responsible citizens.

On the other hand, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Pakistan rose to 841,636 on Wednesday after 4,113 new coronavirus cases surfaced in the country during the last 24 hours.

According to the government's COVID-19 portal, the death toll related to coronavirus has reached to 18,429 with 119 fatalities reported during the last 24 hours.

Over the last twenty four hours, total number of recovered COVID-19 patients across the country reached 738,727 after another 5,665 virus recoveries were reported.

Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Wednesday said that the number of people vaccinated crossed 0.2 million on Tuesday.

In a post on Twitter, the minister said that there has been an increase in citizens getting registered for the Covid-19 vaccine.

He added he said that so far more than 5 million citizens had gotten themselves registered.

"If you are 40 years of age or above, please get yourselves registered as soon as possible," Asad Umar said, urging the nation to continue following precautionary measures.