Despite smart lockdowns, Pakistan’s COVID-19 cases 'increasing rapidly'

Policemen stand guard at a deserted residential area, which was sealed by the authorities in Lahore on June 19, 2020 after the COVID-19 coronavirus cases continue to rise. (AFP)

• Five sub-sectors cordoned off in Islamabad after being identified as coronavirus hotspots 
• Overall “positivity ratio” stood at 4.5% across the country, officials say 

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Monday reported more than 1,600 new cases of the coronavirus in a single day, the highest number since July, with authorities saying that the “positivity ratio” in major cities was “increasing rapidly.”
“Overall, the nationwide positivity ratio in the country is 4.5%, (while) 15 major cities across Pakistan have a higher positivity ratio,” the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which leads the COVID-19 mitigation efforts across the country, said in a statement on Monday.
Earlier in the day, during an NCOC meeting, the forum was apprised of the recent surge in infections, despite “4,136 micro, small lockdowns in place across Pakistan.”
The statement added that 1,650 people had tested positive for the disease on Sunday, taking the total count to 344,839 cases and 6,977 deaths reported.
Meanwhile, authorities in Islamabad have cordoned off five sub-sectors in the capital city which were “emerging as COVID hot spots.”
In a tweet on Sunday night, Deputy Commissioner Islamabad identified these areas as “sectors I-8/3, I-8/4, G-9/1, G-10/4 and G-6/2” before requesting residents to “please cooperate.”
“Schools, Mosques, Shopping centers, parks etc will be closed. AC (assistant commissioner) of the area will ensure arrangements,” his tweet read.

Following sectors will be sealed in the next 24 hours for emerging as covid hot spots.
G-6/2
G-9/1
G-10/4
I-8/3
I-8/4
Residents are requested to plz cooperate. Schools, Mosques, Shopping centers, parks etc will be closed. AC of the area will ensure arrangements

— Deputy Commissioner Islamabad (@dcislamabad) November 8, 2020

Last week, authorities had imposed a new set of restrictions to curb a second wave of the deadly disease.
These include a Rs100 to Rs500 fine for not wearing a face mask, and a ban on indoor weddings across Islamabad, Karachi, Lahore and other cities starting from November 20.
A maximum of 1,000 people will be allowed at outdoor weddings, while 50 percent of staff at all public and private entities must work from home.
Additionally, all bazaars, shopping malls, restaurants, hotels, bakeries, wedding halls and beauty parlors have been ordered to close shop by 10 p.m. while amusement parks can remain open until 6 pm.