Sindh govt imposes Covid curbs once again

The home department of the Government of Sindh on Wednesday issued a fresh notification, through which the provincial authorities ordered the closure of schools, parks, beaches and cinemas until July 31.

The notification reads: “In continuation and in partial modification of the home department’s orders of even number dated February 7, 2021 and July 9, 2021 (three orders), and in pursuance of the decisions taken in the Provincial Task Force on Covid-19 meeting held on July 14, 2021 to review the Covid-19 disease pattern, the Government of Sindh, in exercise of the powers under Section 3(1) of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act, 2014 (The Sindh Act VIII of 2015), is pleased to issue the following order for enforcement within the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Sindh.

“Indoor dining in all restaurants, hotels and cafes will remain closed from July 15, 2021 onwards, schools for students of classes I to VIII will remain closed from July 17, 2021. The teaching and non-teaching staff will, however, be present in their respective schools.

“Examinations for classes IX to XII will be conducted as per the schedule already issued by the respective educational boards under strict observance of the SOPs [standard operating procedures].

“Theme parks, amusement parks, water parks and swimming pools will remain closed from Friday onwards. Indoor gyms and indoor sports will also remain closed from Friday onwards.

“Public transport will operate with 50 per cent occupancy from July 15, 2021 onwards, and there is a complete ban on inland tourism, especially on visiting Seaview, other beaches, Hawkesbay, Keenjhar Lake, Al Manzar, Lab-e-Mehran. Moreover, cinemas will remain closed from July 15, 2021 onwards.

“In view of regular review and assessment at the level of NCOC [National Command & Operation Centre] and the provincial task force, these directions will be in force until July 31, 2021 or until varied, changed or withdrawn earlier.”