Kabul goes into lockdown as govt rushes to tackle virus crisis
Streets in Afghanistan’s normally bustling capital city of Kabul had a deserted look on Saturday, with several shops closed and residents remaining indoors, following the start of a three-week lockdown imposed by the government to contain the spread of COVID-19.
“If we don’t take corona seriously, our message is that corona will take us, seriously,” Health Minister Ferozuddin Feroz said at a press conference in Kabul on Friday.
The outbreak has killed three and infected 116 so far, with authorities worried that the numbers could rise exponentially if preventive measures are not taken on time.
“In case steps are not taken, more than 16 million of the 35 million population of Afghanistan will be affected by corona in the coming months,” Feroz said.
An estimated 6 million people live in Kabul alone.
HIGHLIGHT
Afghan health minister says more than 16 million are expected to be impacted by the COVID-19 disease.
Interior Minister Masoud Andarabi, who was speaking at the same briefing, said that a joint operation would be launched to crack down on drug addicts in Kabul as “they can be vulnerable to the virus and may become a means of spreading it.” He further urged residents to observe the curfew and not to leave their homes, except for health and security reasons, or for the purchase of food supplies.
“We request all citizens, if you don’t have an urgent need, don’t leave your homes, so you stay safe, and also Kabul citizens stay safe,” he said.
The curb includes the closure of all restaurants, hotels, traditional hammams (bathhouses), schools, wedding halls; and government offices — except for those in the medical, security, and municipal sectors. Officials speaking to Arab News on Saturday said that while a majority of the residents and shop owners were complying with the orders, some were flouting the rules and were, thus, forced to shut shop.