With the number of coronavirus cases soaring to more than 1,690 in the country and 51 in the capital city, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) Administration on Monday declared three more buildings as quarantine centres and in addition to these centres, they have kept two hotels as backup.
According to a notification issued by district administration, in the wake of rapid increase in number of patients suffering from coronavirus throughout the country, the administration has decide that the government has declared Pak-China Friendship Center handed over to the National Institute of Rehabilitative Medicine, Hajj Complex, Federal Poly Clinic hospital and the OGDCIL Building, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences PIMS as quarantine centers.
It says that in addition to above three quarantine centers the district administration has two hotels including hotel Redison and hotel De Pape Blue Area as backup arrangement where quarantine centers would be established as and when required, Omer Liaquat Randhawa additional deputy commissioner would coordinate for the arrangement for establishing quarantine centers in these hotels.
As per another notification, keeping in view the difficulties faced by the general public in sending and receiving remittances, the administration order to open all easy paisa, U paisa, Jazz cash and other online payment service for period of three days from 12pm to 4pm in the capital city with immediate effect.
Furthermore, all the shops would strictly abide by notified standard operating procedures (SOPs) for shops in the city.
The shops would also ensure that measures required for maintaining social distance by the customers were strictly adhered to.
The twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi wore a deserted look for the 7th consecutive day on Monday, following the closure of markets, schools and public transport.
The personnel of police, Rangers and army were seen patrolling the roads of the twin cities on Monday too.
The number of vehicles plying on roads of both the cities on Monday was also minimal as public transport was off the road.
Majority of the shops in the major markets in both the cities including Aabpara, Karachi Company, Peshawar Mor, F-6 and F-7, I-8, G-10 Markaz, Commercial Market, Raja Bazaar, Pindora as well as several other smaller markets remain closed, while shops including medical stores/pharmacies, bakeries, meat, milk and grocery stores were open.
The situation was not different in the smaller markets located in various sectors of Islamabad where all the barber shops, tailor shops, hotels, restaurants as well as makeshift food stalls were closed for all kinds of business activity.
The district administration in coordination with other organisations have used disinfection spray in Bhara Kahu and spray would also be done in Shahzad Town and Rimsha Colony, Dhoke Kashmirian, Dhoke Paracha and Magistrate Colony, after dozens of coronavirus cases were reported in these areas.
Heavy contingents of police, Rangers and army were deployed at all entry and exits points of the area.
The administration also issued SOPs for taxi service.
The administration of both the cities have continued raids in the different areas against the violators of SOPs, and fined shopkeepers of grocery stores for selling edibles at higher rates as well as hoarders.
They also checked availability of masks and sanitizers at medical stores and preventive measures taken by medical stores, grocery stores, milk, meat, and chicken shops.
Deputy Commissioner Rawalpindi visited the area of Dhoke Paracha and inquired after the health of housed quarantine citizens, and their issues.