Spike in COVID-19 cases forces authorities to impose smart lockdown in Peshawar

A man walks past shuttered shops in a commercial market area during lockdown, following new restrictions imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Peshawar May 2, 2021. (AFP)

• Officials say no passenger will be allowed to use the city’s mass transit system from August 20 without a coronavirus vaccination certificate
• The COVID-19 positivity rate has remained over 15 percent in the provincial capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for the last seven days

PESHAWAR: The rise in COVID-19 cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s provincial capital Peshawar has forced its district administration to impose a smart lockdown to limit the spread of the respiratory disease, health officials confirmed while talking to Arab News on Friday.
“This notification [of the smart lockdown] shall take effect from August 13 and remain in force until further orders,” said a written instruction issued by the deputy commissioner of Peshawar earlier today.
Malik Rizwan, who works with the office of the provincial health minister, said the coronavirus positivity rate had remained over 15 percent for the last seven days in Peshawar, prompting the authorities to take the lockdown decision in some of the city’s most densely populated neighborhoods.
“Among the 35 districts of the province, Peshawar has reported the maximum number of COVID-19 cases,” he added. “The city performed 1,690 tests on Thursday and reported 246 new coronavirus cases.”
The smart lockdown has been imposed in frequently visited places like Darmangi Garden, Warsak Road, Bara Gate, Charsadda Road and other areas.
According to the notification, no one can enter of exit the specified localities, except for the individuals supplying essential commodities to people.
It also pointed out that only general stores, pharmacies and other outlets providing daily items of necessary use would remain open in these areas.
“Prayer congregation in mosques shall also be restricted to five persons only,” the notification added.
Rizwan informed the province had recorded 682 new cases of the disease in the last 24 hours, with Peshawar reporting the highest number of viral infections.
He attributed the spread of the disease to people’s casual attitude that make them violate officially prescribed precautionary measures, requiring them to wear face masks and keep a physical distance of about six feet.
District administration officials have also launched a massive drive to arrest managers of business outlets and impose financial penalties on those who are guilty of noncompliance with the virus protocols.
Speaking to Arab News, Umair Khan, the spokesperson of the Peshawar Bus Rapid Transit (BRT), said the authorities were already doing their best to implement the COVID-19 protocols by not allowing unmasked travelers to avail the service.
“All measures are being adopted to protect people from the disease and contain the spread of the virus,” he said. “Directives have already been issued for travelers to comply with 100 percent of COVID-19 protocols. Besides, no passenger will be allowed to use the BRT without a coronavirus vaccination certificate after August 20.”