ISLAMABAD: SAPM on Health, Dr Faisal Sultan Saturday urged the public to strictly adhere to COVID-19 SOPs in the wake of increasing number of infections in the country during the new third wave of COVID-19.
“COVID-19 is deadly virus but we can control it just as we controlled it by following the SOPs during the previous two wave”, he said while speaking to PTV news channel.
He said third wave could hit the country further and warned that this wave could be deadlier than the previous two waves.
The government is seeking public full cooperation in adhering to the SOPs, he said, adding, we can save precious lives including those of our near and dear ones by taking preventive measures.
He said that big cities of the country are under strong wave of Covid 19 , adding, with increase in number of coronavirus infections, the number of patients in the hospitals has also increased.
We must wear a mask when going out as it reduces transmission of infection by 70 to 90 per cent. Proper hand washing with soap is very beneficial and so is social distancing. If we continue to practice all SOPs, I assure you that we will counter the second wave of COVID-19 just as successfully as we managed the first time, he added.
He said government was taking practical emergency steps to close all shopping malls, schools, markets and marriage halls within allocated time slots following the prescribed SOPs. Meanwhile, the Punjab government has announced new timetable for business activities in the province in wake of increasing cases of coronavirus.
According to a notification issued by the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department Punjab on 13th of March, now all business activities would shutdown at 6 p.m. while Saturdays and Sundays would be strictly off days for businesses across the province. The notification will remain effective immediately till March 29.
However, all medical services, pharmacies, medical stores, laboratories, collection centers are allowed to remain open round the clock for seven days of the week.
Moreover, grocery stores, general stores, flour grinding mills (Aata chakiyan), vegetable and fruit shops, tandoors, patrol pumps, tyre shops, filling plants and stations, workshops, spare parts shops and agriculture machinery shops will be exempted from the time restriction.
All private and government offices will be allowed to work with 50 per cent staff only.
All indoor/outdoor marriage halls, community centers and marquees in seven big cities of the province including Lahore, Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Multan and Gujrat will be completely closed till March 29 while dine-in in the restaurants of these 7 cities will not be allowed, however, only take away will be allowed.
In these seven cities, only 50 people will be allowed to gather for any social or religious meeting, whereas more than 300 people will not be allowed to gather for any activity other than the mentioned seven big cities of the province.
All dargahs, shrines and cinema halls will remain completely closed. All amusement places and parks will be shut down for public at 6:00 p.m.
District administrations of all districts will remain in touch with the police for implementation of the above restrictions.
P&SHD Secretary Capt (R) M Usman Younis has urged the masses to cooperate with the government by following coronavirus related SOPs.

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