The administration of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) has announced a one-week lockdown in District Mirpur due to an alarming spike in coronavirus cases.
According to a notification issued by the office of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Badar Munir, the lockdown will be imposed from 1 March and will close down all educational institutions for two weeks.
The administration has also restricted public transport and has banned all religious, political, and social activities for a whole month in order to limit the transmission of the virus.
ALSO READ
These Districts Will Follow Alternate Days School Schedule in Punjab
However, the new ban excludes shops selling essential items and medical stores.
The days of the week allotted for grocery shopping days are Tuesday and Friday, only one person from each family is permitted to go shopping.
Additionally, the administration has permitted weddings inside houses but the number of attendees has been limited to 25.
ALSO READ
Govt to Offer Free IT Training in Hyderabad, Software Technology Parks to be Established in Sindh
Starting from March, all points of entry to District Mirpur will be sealed, and those who need to leave for emergency medical purposes will have to get their departures authorized by the magistrate.
The pandemic situation in the district has worsened as hospitals lack the capacity to accommodate the rising number of patients.
District Health Officer (DHO) Mirpur, Dr. Fida Hussain, said that 28 people had lost their lives to the coronavirus in February alone and that there are 326 currently active cases in the district.
DC Munir said,
The administration and health department tried their best to contain the infection, but the sharp increase in COVID-19 cases, particularly over the past two weeks, has baffled everyone; resultantly leaving us with no choice but to take some harsh measures.
