COVID-19 lockdown: KP police say took action against almost 14,000 violators in a month

F.P. Report

PESHAWAR: Action was taken against almost 14,000 people in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for violating the lockdown imposed to contain the coronavirus pandemic over the past month, a top police official said Tuesday.

Speaking to private channel, KP Inspector-General (IG) of Police Sanaullah Abbasi said authorities took action against 13,978 people, of which 4,047 were in Peshawar, 1,993 in Mardan, and 1,557 in Swat.

In addition, 7,352 cases were registered over the same time period for violating lockdown restrictions.

IG Abbasi further mentioned that social distancing was being practised in mosques across the province.

His comments come as COVID-19 cases surge past 14,500, with almost 2,000 of those recorded in KP alone. More than 300 people have died due to the deadly virus.

Last week, the provincial government made it obligatory for people to wear masks in public places, KP Health and Finance Minister Taimur Khan Jhagra had said at a news conference.

Jhagra had said it was possible that people would have to live with the coronavirus for two to three years. “Wear a mask not just to protect yourself, but to protect others. Even a cloth mask will do,” he had noted.

Jhagra had mentioned that the measure would be enforced in three phases. “For the first 72 hours, we will take a soft approach. Over the next week, we will focus more on the implementation.

“A week after that, we will try that the public, at least in the province’s major cities, are wearing masks,” he had said.