With the number of novel coronavirus (COVID-19) cases rising in the federal capital and surrounding areas, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration on Saturday ordered closure of all shops and food outlets at 5pm as part of the measures, aimed at discouraging public gatherings.
An official said that Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Hamza Shafqaat has issued directives to the police to ensure closure of all shops in various markets at 5pm.
Only pharmacies and takeaway shops will be allowed to remain open after 5pm, he said.
However, in the notification issued on March 22 by the district administration it was ordered that shops especially grocery stores will shut at 8pm instead of 10pm in the capital city.
Meanwhile, the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration and "Hello Doctor" have jointly launched a medical advice app to provide medical advice to people at their doorstep during the outbreak in the federal capital.
DC Shafqaat said that following the outbreak of coronavirus on March 24, the ICT administration had suspended out patient department (OPD) services in both public and private sector hospitals.
In order to facilitate patients at their homes in the present situation, the ICT Administration and "Hello doctor" have launched a medical advice app.
With "Hello Doctor" people can talk to the PMDC-certified doctors, therefore they need to download this app, he said.
The total number of confirmed coronavirus positive cases in the capital city surged up to 223 after nine more people were tested positive on Saturday.
The country's tally of the Covid-19 infections has reached 12,227.
According to the official data, the Punjab has 5,046 cases followed by Sindh 4,232, the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 1,708, Balochistan 656, Gilgit-Baltistan 307, and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) 55.
Till the filling of this report, 2,755 coronavirus patients have so far recovered, and 256 have died across the country.
The DC also chaired a meeting of district price control committee and the meeting fixed prices of essential commodities.