NCOC orders lockdown in coronavirus hotspots from Monday

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced imposing lockdown in Covid-19 hotspots from March 29 (tomorrow) along with a complete ban on all kinds of indoor and outdoor activities from April 5, reported 24NewsHD TV channel. 

This was decided in a special meeting of the NCOC headed by Planning Minister Asad Umar and attended by all provincial chief secretaries. 

The NCOC will be providing maps of the latest COVID-19 hotspots to the provinces. It will also empower the provinces to clamp lockdown restrictions even before the time. 

All kinds of political, cultural, sports and social gatherings are banned from March 29 (Monday).

All weddings including outdoor or indoor are banned from April 5.

Special meeting of the NCOC also discussed minimizing the use of transport in the country and the final decision will be taken only after the data will be shared by the provinces.

The NCOC also directed provinces to complete the target of COVID-19 vaccine jabs along with providing data to the federal government. 

In the last 24 hours (Saturday), 57 people lost their battle against the deadly virus taking the overall tally to 14,215 and 4,767 new cases were also registered. 

Moreover, the ratio of COVID-19 cases is 18 percent in Lahore.

It may be mentioned here that Lahore police registered the first case against a citizen Sunday for not wearing the mask and violating the other SOPs.

Planning Minister Asad Umar also tweeted, “Chief Secretaries have been advised to ensure strict compliance of the SOPs. Would request everyone to cooperate with the administration as they are enforcing these SOPs for safeguarding us.”

Chief secretaries have been advised to ensure strict compliance of the sop's. Would request everyone to cooperate with the administration as they are enforcing these sop's for safeguarding us

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 28, 2021

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar stressed for compliance of corona SOPs to contain the spread of the third wave of virus.

The TV channel quoting its sources said that the health department and Lahore administration have prepared proposals for complete lockdown amid the deteriorating situation of COVID-19 in the metropolis. 

Meanwhile, Lahore Division Commissioner Muhammad Usman has announced to operationalise the Sports Complex Vaccination Centre. 

The Lahore Commissioner also directed for announcements from mosques to make aware the people about the third wave of COVID-19.

Reporter Saba Bajeer