Corona cases spike: Sindh decides to close schools, indoor dining

KARACHI: The Sindh government has decided to close schools, impose a ban on indoor dining again and place several other restrictions across the province as COVID-19 cases continue to increase amid fears of a fourth wave. The steps were taken on Wednesday during the meeting of the Provincial Coronavirus Taskforce headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah.

Schools are to close from Friday for students of all classes, except for the exams of students enrolled in class 9 and above. Once exams are finished, schools will also close for students of class 9 and above.

It was also decided to impose a ban on indoor restaurants, amusement parks, water parks, tourists spots, cinemas, gyms and indoor games from Friday.

The participants were informed that the provincial positivity has reached 7.4%. To this, CM Shah said a rate over 5% is a matter of concern for the government.

About Karachi, the meeting was told that the situation is alarming where the positivity was recorded at 17.11 on July 13.

Earlier, on the direction of higher authority, the local administration in the federal Capital imposed a smart lockdown at six hotspots of coronavirus. The smart lockdown will continue till July 29, 2021. After a surge in the number of COVID-19 cases, the local administration of Islamabad has decided to impose a smart lockdown in these areas Wednesday.

The local administration has issued a notification of smart lockdown at Sector E-7, Korang Town, River Garden, Kashmiri Mohallah, Media Town and Bahria Town. The administration has also declared hotspots areas of Islamabad in which Qartaba Town, Street No 18 in G-11/2, street no18 in F-11/2, street no 19 in F-6/3 and street no 24 in G-7/3.