Coronavirus: Which areas are under micro lockdowns in Karachi?

Amid an uptick in coronavirus cases in Karachi, authorities imposed micro lockdowns in four districts of the metropolis on Saturday, to stem a further spread of the pandemic.

The deputy commissioners, on the recommendation of district health officers, ordered micro smart lockdowns to be enforced in the streets/localities of the specified areas until active cases come down to zero.

The restrictions will come into force from 12am today (November 21) till 7pm on December 5.

Karachi has reported 859 cases in the past 24 hours, according to Chief Minister Sindh Murad Ali Shah, with district South registering the most cases — 247.

Meanwhile, 233 cases were recorded in the city’s district East, 133 in West, 109 in Korangi, 105 in Central, and 32 in Malir, the chief minister said.

Moreover, a lockdown has been imposed in the district South's upscale areas including DHA’s Khayaban-e-Momin, Khayaban Badban, Bath Island and Khayaban-e-Ittehad.

District South

According to the notification, two areas of district West have been placed under lockdown, while a similar restriction will be imposed in  Gadap Town.

District West

In District Korangi, several localities in Nasir Colony, Al Falah, and Model Colony have been put under a micro lockdown.

District Korangi

• Blocks 2, 3, 8, 9, 10, 12, 13, 14, 15, 18 and 19 of Gulberg
• Blocks B, C, D, G, L, N, and 14-B of North Nazimibad
• Firdous Colony, Nazimabad No 4, 3 and 1 in Nazimabad
• Sector 11-A, Sector 11-B, Sector 11-E and Sector SC-1 of New Karachi.

District Central

42 deaths recorded in 24 hours

The development comes as Pakistan recorded 42 coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours — the highest since mid-July. This brought the country's death toll to 7,603.

The country also reported the highest single-day tally in four months as 2,843 people tested positive for the coronavirus, bringing the total number to 371,508.

So far 328,931 patients have recovered from the virus while the number of active cases stands at 34,974.

Over 17,000 COVID-19 cases were reported across the country in the past week and more than 490 deaths.

Ban on large gatherings

It is pertinent to mention here that the National Coordination Committee had imposed an immediate ban on large gatherings, three days earlier.

The NCC had said that the management of any event will be responsible for implementing standard operations procedures (SOPs) pertaining to coronavirus.

If the event leads to the spread of the virus, the management will be held responsible.

On marriages, it said that a ban would be imposed on indoor gatherings from November 20 and that only outdoor events will be permitted with an upper limit of 300 people.