Masses violate SOPs on Eid as COVID-19 fourth wave threat rises

ISLAMABAD – Despite the frequent warnings of the government regarding the rapid spread of fourth Covid-19 wave, the masses across the country have failed to follow SOPs during the Eid.

The Eid celebrations in the country came at a time when a rapid spike in COVID-19 cases was being witnessed and the threat of the Delta variant was looming.

In Islamabad alone, days before Eid, the district administration had run several campaigns to educate the masses and convince them to follow SOPs during the Eid celebrations.

However, the crowded markets, mosques and cattle markets in Islamabad before Eid are considered to be a super spreader as the SOPs fixed by the government were rarely followed by the masses amid the mounting threat of Covid-19 fourth wave.

Despite the frequent warnings regarding the looming fourth wave of Covid-19 by the district administration and National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the masses in markets, mosques and cattle markets rarely followed SOPs while visiting mosques, cattle markets before and during Eid.

Amid the rising Covid-19 positivity ratio in the capital, a majority of people visiting different markets of Islamabad including G-9 Markaz, Sitara Market, F-11 Markaz, F-7 Markaz and F-8 Markaz failed to wear masks and adopt the SOPs.

Meanwhile, a huge number of worshippers while visiting mosques also failed to maintain distance among rows and a very few number of people wore masks.

Talking to The Nation, Mufti Zahid Shah, an Imam in a mosque in Blue Area, said that the masses were regularly advised to wear masks while visiting mosques, “but they did not bother to follow the advice and SOPs fixed by the government,” he added.

He said that ulema along the district administration across the country played their role in creating awareness among the masses, however, the common people must also take some responsibility as citizens of the country.

When Deputy Commissioner Islamabad Hamza Shafqaat was contacted on the matter, he told The Nation that district administration had formed teams to keep a strict watch on every single cattle market, shopping market and other places.

He said that teams were in field and action was taken on daily basis, adding that around 450 actions were taken on daily basis in the areas where violations of SOPs were taking place.

It must be noted that Coronavirus cases continue to spike with the country recording over 50,000 active virus cases on the third day of Eid ul Adha.

As per the NCOC details on July 23, another 11 deaths were reported from coronavirus in Pakistan in the last 24 hours with 25,215 tests. While 1425 new cases were recorded with positivity rate of 5.65%.

Article source: https://nation.com.pk/24-Jul-2021/masses-violate-sops-on-eid-as-covid-19-fourth-wave-threat-rises