Punjab bans indoor-outdoor weddings, closes parks and restaurants as pandemic rages across province

According to details, Chief Minister Punjab Usman Buzdar presided over a meeting to review the coronavirus situation in province.

Following the meeting, CM Punjab addressed a presser alongside Special Assistant to the Chief Minister on Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan and announced the new restrictions in province to contain the spread of the coronavirus.

“All public parks and ban dine-in services have been banned at the restaurants and only take-away will be allowed. All markets and shopping malls will remain open only five days and close at 6pm,” he said adding,

“Moreover, the services of Metro bus and Orange Line train have also been suspended in Lahore.”

The Punjab government has made wearing of face mask mandatory and a policy of micro smart lockdown will also be adopted.

Coronavirus is spreading at a rapid pace in major cities of Punjab, said CM Punjab adding that lockdown will be enforced in areas where corona positivity rate is more than 12%.

The restrictions will come into force from April 1 and will remain in place until April 11.

The national positivity rate has been recorded at 11.20 percent as Covid-19 cases across the country continue to soar, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) told on Monday.

Pakistan is experiencing third wave of coronavirus which is said to be deadlier and more contagiousthan previous two waves.

Around 4,525 cases of coronavirus were reported while 41 people succumbed to the disease in the last 24 hours, taking the total death toll to 14,256.  The total number of confirmed cases reached to 659,116.

As many as 598,197 patients have recovered from the disease with 3,055 critical cases.