ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: It’s been two days since the local residents in Bhara Kahu have been living in a state of panic and anxiety after reports have surfaced that dozens of local dwellers have been infected by the Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) transmitted from a Tableeghi Jamaat.
Though the local residents remain oblivious of their fate in the future as nothing officially has yet been communicated to them that either they have been exposed to the virus or not, and even if the Coronavirus has been transmitted to them, how many of them are affectees.
Under the severe uncertainty, the people especially living within the Kot Hathial Union Council have been besieged as the entire area was sealed on Monday after five members of a foreign Tableeghi Jamaat staying at Bilal Masjid were tested positive.
Also Read: Lockdown imposed in Bhara Kahu after Tableeghi Jamaat Members Tested Positive for COVID-19
The lockdown was imposed in Kot Hathial for an indefinite period as a preventive measure to halt the disease. In the meantime, samples of the rest of the Tableeghi Jamaat members were also taken; though the results are yet awaited but it’s believed that not only the tests will likely be found positive but most of the local residents must have been infected as well.
ASP Hmaza with team sealed Kot Hathial Bhara Kahu.
ICT Police & ICT Administration leading from the front to save the lives of citizens.
You are requested to cooperate with us.#CoronaFreePakistan pic.twitter.com/NJnSIak9Lo— DIG Operations Islamabad (@DigIslamabad) March 23, 2020
Since last night, a number of rumours are being propagated in Social Media that a huge number of Bhara Kahu dwellers have been infected by the Coronavirus, causing serious panic and fear among the residents.
Though nothing has yet been ascertained but more apprehensions were triggered when on Tuesday afternoon medical stores and general stores were forced to be shut down in Bhara Kahu, intimating that the situation in the area had alarmingly worsened after the detection of a number of Coronavirus Cases.
It’s worth noting that medical and grocery shops were exempted from the restrictions imposed in the Bhara Kahu.
By now as per sources, the screening process was not initiated as yet of residents dwelling in areas adjoining Bilal Masjid and Makki Masjid wherein the Tableeghi Jamaat remained stationed for days, and in the meantime, the people used to perform religious rituals in those mosques. So far the residents have just been asked to self-quarantine themselves and avoid leaving their houses unnecessarily.
The infected Tableeghi Jamaat members, who have now been quarantined in Bilal Masjid while one of their Kyrgyz mate who transmitted the virus to others has been hospitalized in PIMS, also on Monday grumbled about being denied the basic necessities such as food in the sealed mosque but later when their concerns were conveyed to the authorities, the officials on duty fulfilled their needs.
