5 more Karachi localities under lockdown
Five localities in Karachi’s Korangi under micro-lockdowns following emergence of cases in identified hotspot areas. Al Mustafa Apartment in Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Askari-IV and Block 13 in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Al Khaleed Tower at Shaheed-e-Millat Road and parts of Martin Quarter have been sealed until October 17. According to the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), around 103 restaurants and six weddings halls in the metropolitan were also sealed on October 2 after they were found to be violating SOPs.
KP may suspend school screenings
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government is mulling suspending COVID-19 screenings in schools due to low disease prevalence – samples collected from private and public institutions in the province revealed a positivity ratio of 1.22%, which authorities state were not a cause for concern. Of 20,720 samples collected from educational institutions, 16,544 came back negative, 203 turned out positive while results for 3,973 are still awaited. However, any decision on halting screenings will be taken by the NCOC.
5 school staffers test positive in Pindi
Five staff members from educational institutions in Rawalpindi tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease via random sampling conducted from September 24 to October 2. The infected individuals were isolated but the school buildings will not be sealed as the incidence of the disease was too low to warrant such measures, stated the district administration.
Karachi schools not closed
Provincial Minister of Sindh for Labour, Education, Literacy and Human Resources, Saeed Ghani rubbished reports of the government moving to close schools due to a rise in virus cases in Karachi, during a press briefing on October 2. He stated that the provincial government so far has only imposed micro-lockdowns hotspots, however if people continue to flout SOPs, the authorities may be forced to impose a complete lockdown.