Pakistan imposes new restrictions in 24 districts with high coronavirus prevalence

A man walks past shuttered shops in a closed commercial market area during lockdown, following new restrictions imposed as a preventive measure against the spread of the Covid-19 coronavirus, in Peshawar May 2, 2021. (AFP/File)

• Education institutes in Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore and other places will remain closed until September 12
• The government will hold a review meeting on September 9 to take further decisions

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan on Friday decided to strengthen coronavirus restrictions in the federal capital and several districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces for about a week starting Saturday.
The decision was announced after Prime Minister Imran Khan approved non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to curb the spread of the disease following a briefing on the country's coronavirus situation.
Pakistan reported 3,787 new COVID-19 cases and 57 related deaths in the last 24 hours.
The country's planning minister Asad Umar — who also heads the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) that deals with the coronavirus pandemic — warned on Thursday the delta variant was fast spreading in Pakistan, resulting in more hospitalizations.
“COVID update encompassing special NPIs for selective high disease prevalence districts of Punjab, KP & ICT [Islamabad Capital Territory] was presented by NCOC to Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan on 3rd September 2021,” said an NCOC statement. “After taking a detailed stock of current disease situation in different districts, daily hospital admissions, pressure on critical care and availability of oxygen, Honourable Prime Minister very kindly consented the approval of special NPI for 24 high disease prevalence districts.”
The new measures to prevent the spread of the virus include a ban on outdoor and indoor gatherings, intercity public transportation and closure of education institutions and indoor gyms.
The measures will be applicable to 15 districts in Punjab, eight in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Pakistan’s federal capital.
The government will review the situation next Thursday to decide if the special measures — enforced from September 4 to 12 — need to be kept in place or relaxed.