The chief minister said that it is being said that "it is not as if the pandemic will end in nine days", but what must be understood is that in this period "hospitals will not choke".
Answering a question regarding why a nine-day lockdown was announced, versus a 15-day one, Shah said that the task force, in its meeting today, acknowledged that this period — which amounts to five actual days of lockdown as four days will be regular off days for businesses anyway — will be one "that will cause minimum economic damage".
He added that doctors concurred that "something is better than nothing".
"At least a break will be provided — think of it as a speed breaker slowing things down," Shah said.
"Then, when we reopen, I hope people will continue to follow SOPs, so we are not forced to repeat such a move," the chief minister said.
Shah said that after the meeting, he spoke to National Command and Operation Centre chief Asad Umar, as well as Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan "and both assured me of the Centre's cooperation".
"Whatever we have notified is after consultations and taking NCOC on board."
The Sindh chief minister said that the order extends to all of Sindh "but our focus is on Karachi because it is the worst off".
He said that no exams will take place from Monday-Friday and the two weekends that fall within the lockdown period.
Shah, responding to whether private organisations will be required to remain shut, said that the government "is advising that they do remain shut or keep staff to a minimum".
"The purpose is for no one to exit their home, unless there is an emergency," he explained.
'Focus on getting vaccinated'
The Sindh chief minister urged all the media persons to encourage everyone to get vaccinated, as all vaccines offer protection.
"Vaccinated individuals are an extremely low percentage of those people who die due to coronavirus," he said.
Shah said that in the next nine days, people should "forget about everything else, and just focus on getting vaccinated".
He acknowledged that people might have to queue up in long lines to get themselves inoculated "but this is in your own benefit".
Citing his own example, he said that given his role, he was unable to exercise as much caution as is required but he remained safe and did not get infected due tot he
To a question, he said that the government is trying to increase the number of vaccination centres and mobile vaccination centres, and is mulling on a suggestion by the ulema to have mosques and imambargahs used for the exercise.
What can be expected in the nine-day period
The Sindh chief minister said that those wearing a mask "will not be caught", whereas he "won't be able to anyone found not wearing one".
According to a statement by the CM House, the lockdown will be in place till the 9th of August and "will be particularly focusing the retail industry in the city".
- Essential services will be open.
- Food and food related industry will be open, restaurants will only be allowed delivery, no take away, dine in or outside.
- Health facilities will remain open, so will bakeries, meat and vegetable shops and grocery.
- Vaccination centers will function as usual.
- Banks are not under our jurisdiction but we will certainly request that they operate with minimal staff. Same with the ports.
- Petrol pumps will remain open.
- Media persons with masks are allowed.
- Utility companies and municipal services will not come under lockdown.
- There will be no examinations next week; all exams must be postponed till after the lockdown is lifted.
https://www.geo.tv/latest/362556-pandemic-wont-end-after-9-day-lockdown-but-hospitals-will-not-choke-up-sindh-cm
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