HERAT CITY (Pajhwok): Local authorities on Wednesday placed the provincial capitals of western Herat and Nimroz provinces under lock down to check the coronavirus spread.
Jailani Farhad, Herat governor’s spokesman, told Pajhwok Afghan News that the local administration had decided to impose the lockdown from today, Wednesday, in Herat city.
Based on the decision, markets and shops selling decorative goods or unnecessary products would stay closed until second notice. However, grocery stores, drug stores and other essential services would be open, he said.
Except the local administration including municipality, power utility, transport, revenue office and some banks, all other departments would be also shut, Farhad added. “The local administration is trying to prevent further spread of coronavirus in Herat.”
He said after the lockdown, a number of vehicle-based stores would be providing food and other essential items to public in Herat city.
People have different views about the ban on public movements in the city.
Some people welcomed the decision while others said coronavirus could not affect Afghans and the government should not stop people from working.
Abdul Hamid, a resident of Herat city said, “This lockdown is to save us, we saw many developed countries failing to contain the virus and self-quarantine is the only way to prevent coronavirus spread, it is good for us not to go out.”
Mohammad Yousuf, another resident of Herat, was against the lockdown. He said, “Coronavirus affected the whole world but we trust in God and it would not affect Afghans and closing the city is not a good idea, many people have no food to eat, there maybe people who have food but there are also a lot of poor people.”
The lockdown comes after cases of coronavirus increased in Herat.
A lockdown was also imposed in Nimroz province. Abdul NabiBarahawi, Nimroz deputy governor, said that High Committee for Containing Coronavirus had decided to ban any public movements in Herat city and Farah and Nimroz provinces.
He said the lockdown would be applied from tomorrow, Thursday and all government organs would be closed.
He said four people suspected persons had been quarantined and their samples sent to Kabul for test.
Noor RahmanHottak, mayor of the capital of Nimroz, said that except bakeries, grocery stores and drug stores, all other shops will be shut in the capital of the province. Those violated the restrictions will face serious actions, he said.
The Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) on Wednesday said 32 new cases of coronavirus have been detected during the last 24 hours in Herat, increasing the total to 74 across the country.
The global death toll from the coronavirus has soared to 19,000, with the number of infections standing at more than 400,000.
The deadly virus surfaced three months ago in China’s Wuhan city and spread to 190 countries around the world.
Mds/ma
