LAHORE, Pakistan: Intimidated by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak and limit the public gatherings, the Punjab government has announced to shut down all Malls, Shopping Centers, Restaurants, Parks, and Markets across the province for next two days.
While addressing a Press Conference in Lahore on Saturday, the Chief Minister Punjab Sardar Usman said that all Malls, Shopping Centers, Restaurants, Parks, Markets will stay closed from 09:00 pm on Saturday to 09:00 am on Tuesday.
However, the Chief Minister said that Food Mandis, Grocery Stores, Pharmacies and Take Away Shops will stay open 24/7.
Usman Buzdar also underlined the significance of keeping social distance and urged the people to stay at homes for the next two days rather than enjoying their long weekend as a picnic.
“Citizens should show responsibility and stay indoors for 2 days,” he said.
The Chief Minister said that if the government decides to lockdown the Cities, the people will be apprised about it.
The fresh restrictions are in addition to already taken initiatives taken across the Country including in Punjab under which non-essential public gatherings, sports activities, events, and ceremonies, etc have been banned. Besides, all educational institutions have been closed till April 5 while the examinations have been postponed.
So far 137 people have been infected with the infectious virus in Punjab; however, the Provincial Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid said that none of the infected patients in the province is critical.
