Markets in twin cities on Thursday witnessed rush of customers but a complete lack of precautionary measures framed for control of spread of the coronavirus was observed at the markets, which may cause an increase in number of the coronavirus cases.

Following exemption given to hardware, stationery and book shops, hairdresser, auto workshop, tyre puncture, spare parts shops and tailors shops from lockdown by the government, people rushed to markets but neither customers nor shopkeepers adopted standard operating procedures (SOPs) for controlling the spread of the COVID-19.

According to a survey conducted by Business Recorder of various markets of the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi, the owners of recently exempted businesses have resumed their business without adopting preventive measures recommended by the government.

Some businesses including garments, cosmetics shops that who have not been given exemption from the lockdown have also restarted their operations. The grocery stores, pharmacies, fruit and vegetables shops, dry fruit shops, tandoors, which were not closed during the lockdown, were also seen violating the SOPs.

According to the notification issued by the district administration, large departmental stores will only keep their grocery and pharmacy sections open, while all others sections will remain closed.

They will allow customers to enter stores in smaller number, while fulfilling the condition of social distancing.

The large departmental stores in violation of government instructions have opened all sections, and are not keeping any check over social distancing.

The departmental stores are also not disinfecting public use areas. Huge rush of motorists was witnessed on various roads of the twin cities on Thursday.

The number of coronavirus cases rose in the federal capital on Wednesday to 145 bringing the country's tally of the COVID-19 infections to 6,919, according to the official data.

According to the official data, Punjab has 3,291 cases followed by Sindh 1,645, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 912, Balochistan 280, Gilgit-Baltistan 237, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 46. Till the filling of this report, 1,645 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 128 have died across the country.

Meanwhile, Islamabad police have finalised a night patrolling plan covering all sectors of the city, and checking would be conducted by erecting police pickets at entry and exit points of the residential areas under this new policing strategy.