Afghan police pledge still tighter control as lockdown continues

KABUL (TOLO News): Following a surge in the number of positive cases of coronavirus in the country, particularly in Kabul city, the acting Minister of Interior on Friday said that police will impose more restrictions on the residents in order to curb unnecessary movement.

Andarabi warned that if people in Kabul continue defying the order, police will use force against them.

“Now is the time that the people work in this regard. If we see any sort of violation, we will act seriously,” said Andarabi.

Kabul was put in lockdown 14 days ago. However, residents in the city have been caught defying the lockdown rules.

Afghanistan so far has 521 positive cases of COVID-19, with the majority of them recorded in Herat and in Kabul provinces.

Meanwhile documents seen by TOLOnews indicate that at least 20 employees of the Presidential Palace have tested positive for the coronavirus out of 517 samples examined.

Some residents in Kabul have said that the people should not forget the poor during the lockdown.

“We are respecting the guidelines because coronavirus is a serious and deadly disease, but what should the people do with their economic problems?” asked one resident in Kabul Hashmatullah.

“The people should stay at their homes and respect the lockdown. We can overcome economic hardships but we need to thwart the threat of the coronavirus,” said Nazar Mohammad, a resident in Kabul.

Previously the Afghan Minister of Public Health warned that if the people do not abide by the hygiene rules, there will be a catastrophe in Kabul.