LARKANA:The deputy commissioner, Larkana, Muhammad Nauman Siddique through a notification on Tuesday ordered sealing of 12 areas in Larkana and Ratodero taluka for a period of seven days as three Covid-19 patients died today.
These areas include Khichi Muhalla, Shahi Bazar, Bunder Road, main Bus Stand of Larkana, Barra Alam, Beef Market Road, Jalbani Muhalla to hotel of Moor Shah, from gate of Sardar Pir Bux Ghanghro to Habib Bank including Bazaar Road, Resham Gali (from Bachal Shah House to Dag Tallab Masjid), main railway crossing road to main bazaar road towards Naundero city and Larkana Road of Ratodero and Allah Wala Chowk and Main Bazaar of Naundero.
The action has been taken under section 3(3) of the Sindh Epidemic Disease Act, 2014 in large public interest and to prevent/slow down the spread of COVID-19. SSP and Wing Commander, Shahbaz Rangers, have been requested to restrict movement of persons in these areas, ensure public adherence to SOPs issued by the home department and take action against delinquents found in violating this notification under section 188 of the PPC. Medical stores, small grocery stores and truly essential services are exempted from this notification.
Meanwhile, out of 28 samples of NBP main branch Larkana employees, 17 have been detected positive after which branch has been sealed off. Sources at the bank said that Hathi Dar, Shikarpur, Ratodero, and Naundero branches will soon open which were closed after positive cases were detected among the employees but Main Branch, Larkana, will continue to remain sealed. These sources further claimed that Naundero branch will open only when its head cashier is tested negative after going through an isolation period.
On the other hand, two COVID-19 patients expired Tuesday at the ICU of Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) Larkana and another woman expired in her home belonging to an influential family. There are 14 patients at the COVID-19 ICU at the moment out of whom four are on ventilators. So far 40 patients were admitted to the CMCH COVID019 ICU out of which 20 have expired, credible sources told this scribe on condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions.
Meanwhile, a young engineer, Zahid Ali died of coronavirus in Karachi in the wee hours of Tuesday. His body was shifted to his native village Naundero for final rites. The deadly virus has so far claimed five lives in Naundero.