Sindh govt extends lockdown till April 30

KARACHI (92 News) – The Sindh government has extended the coronavirus lockdown till April 30 after the rising numbers of COVID-19 cases in the province. According to a notification issued by the home department, the ongoing lockdown orders will remain in effect till April 30, 2020. The provincial government extended lockdown with a set of guidelines to encourage citizens to practice social distancing amid the pandemic outbreak. In the earlier notification, the restrictions on public gatherings will continue to be practiced with a complete ban on public places, commercial areas, markets, shops of non-essential items, restaurants except for home delivery, picnic points, jail visits, and intracity and intercity public transport except for food and essential items. Meantime, all schools, colleges, medical colleges, universities, technical and vocational institutions, madrassahs and tuition centres of the province are already closed till May 31st. Commercial centres, shopping malls, cinemas, wedding halls, showrooms, banquets and hotels will also remain closed throughout the province. The holy sites, including shrines, will also remain shut, in accordance with the lockdown guidelines. Citizens have been asked to limit their movements from 5pm to 8am. Exceptions has been granted for law-enforcers, medics and paramedics, medical stores adjacent to healthcare facilities, technical staff, goods transporters, people associated with charity outfits and on-duty journalists. The notification advises citizens to travel with three-foot distance from others. While on a motorbike, a single person is allowed except in the case of a female family member. Meanwhile, two persons are allowed to ride a car except when a very sick person requires an attendant. Also, for funeral and burial rites, only close family members will be allowed with prior information to the local administration. Earlier, PM Imran Khan has announced that the ongoing partial lockdown will continue for two weeks. Expressing his views after a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Tuesday, he said that educational and sports activities will remain suspended for two weeks. He announced opening of the construction industry and other industries from today. “We will announce a package for the construction sector,” he declared.