PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government announced more strict measures for prevention of coronavirus after three more cases were reported in the province on Wednesday, taking the tally to 19.

KP Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra announced on Twitter that three more cases have been surfaced, one each from Buner, Hangu and Mardan.

The patients are under treatment at Mardan Medical Complex, District Headquarters Hospital Buner and Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar. He said the patient admitted to the LRH Peshawar belongs to Hangu, so this case is considered from Hangu, not Peshawar.

The minister said the three affected persons have come from abroad and their family members are also being tested.

After emergence of new coronavirus cases, the KP Task Force headed by Chief Minister Mehmood Khan on Wednesday held a meeting and decided to take some strict measures to prevent the further spread of the disease.

Some of the main measures announced by the KP government on Wednesday are:

  • Entry of general public has been banned in all secretariats, directorates, district offices (except district administration) of KP.
  • Only essential government offices will remain open from 10:00am to 4:00pm from Monday to Thursday. Offices will close at 12:00 noon on Fridays.
  • Official meetings of more than five people will be suspended. Necessary meetings will be held through video conference.
  • Shops of groceries, medicines and other essential items will remain open in KP round the clock, while other shops will remain open from 10:00am till 7:00pm.
  • All tourist spots will be vacated.
  • Offices of all minsters, advisers and special assistants will be closed with the exception of offices of minister for health and CM’s adviser on information which will remain open.
  • Restaurants, eateries and fast food outlets have been closed till April 5. However, customers will have the facility to take food from hotel to home.
  • Barber shops and beauty parlours have also been closed for next 15 days.
  • All the banks have been directed to install hand sanitizers at all ATMs.
  • All private ceremonies in homes and closed compounds will be banned till next orders.

So far, 257 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Pakistan including 189 in Sindh, 26 in Punjab, 19 in KP, 16 in Balochistan, five in AJK and GB and two in Islamabad.