HYDERABAD: The smart lockdown imposed in selected areas of the city remained somewhat ineffective on its very first day on Friday as residents violated standard operating procedures (SOPs) defined by the Sindh government.

Hyderabad Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro had announced the lockdown effective for 14 days, from June 19 to July 2, to stem the spread of the coronavirus. It was given effect from 9am as per deputy commissioner’s orders in three talukas of Hyderabad district.

The lockdown is enforced in around nine committees of the three talukas. Some areas of Qasimabad were excluded in the modified June 17 lockdown plan. Qasimabad taluka has the highest number of areas under lockdown.

Main arteries of these areas were closed with barbed wires and Rangers personnel were deployed there, but they mostly remained present till morning hours.

The DC had directed public to stay home and wear face mask when going out, but people did not comply with them. They were out without face coverings and even in the presence of police, motorcyclists passed through the restricted areas by using small passages that were left open. Traffic flow and people’s movement remained normal in these areas while shops also remained opened on Friday as Saturday and Sunday witness normal closure of markets due to the lockdown.

In Hyderabad, 1,800 coronavirus cases have emerged since March and of them, 908 have recovered, according to official figures of district health office (DHO) Hyderabad. Out of 854 active cases, 769 are in home isolation till June 18. A total number of 46 deaths in the district have been reported so far since April.

LARKANA: In the wake of rapid increase in the transmission of Covid-19 and the recommendations of district health office, the Larkana deputy commissioner has imposed a smart lockdown in the municipal limits of Larkana, Naudero and Ratodero for 10 days, from June 20 to 29, from 12am to 12pm, said a notification issued by the DC on Thursday. The action is taken in the larger public interest and to prevent the accelerated spread of Covid-19 in the areas mentioned, according to it.

During the lockdown, all entry and exit points will remain sealed and no person or vehicle, except for supplying essential commodities, would be allowed on the roads.

All types of gatherings, including congregation of prayers in mosques/churches, would be restricted and should not exceed five persons, the order said.

Local intercity transport — motorcycles, cars, pick-ups — are not allowed to ply on the roads, during the lockdown. But the vehicles carrying patients to hospitals in emergency are exempted. The senior superintendent of police (SSP) and the wing commander of Shahbaz Rangers were requested to restrict the movement of persons within the municipal limits of Larkana taluka and Ratodero. Action may be taken against the violators of SOPs.

According to a situation report issued by the control room regarding Covid-19 in Larkana on Friday, 19 new cases of the coronavirus have been detected. So far 19 deaths have been reported in the district and currently 10 cases of Covid-19 are admitted in the high dependency and intensive care units while 351 were in home isolation.

Published in Dawn, June 20th, 2020