ISLAMABAD: The Sindh government has decided to close schools and impose a ban on indoor dining, among other measures taken by the provincial government amid fears of a fourth wave of the coronavirus, a spokesperson for the Sindh government said on Wednesday.

The steps were taken after a meeting of the Provincial Coronavirus Taskforce headed by Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah. In the last 24 hours, Sindh recorded 1,201 new infections out of a total of 1,980 cases reported across the country.

“Decision to close indoor dining from last night [Tuesday] .. to close schools from grade one to eight from Friday,” a spokesperson for the chief minister said in a statement, adding that schools would remain open for exams of classes 9 and above.

“Amusement Parks, Water Parks, Sea View, Hawke’s Bay [beach[,” will remain closed from Friday, as would cinemas, indoor gyms and indoor sports, the spokesperson said.

“During the meeting, the chief minister expressed concern on the worsening situation of COVID-19 in Sindh where the positivity ratio has increased sharply during the past few days,” Pakistan’s Geo News said.

On Monday, the Sindh health department proposed shutting down primary schools in the southern province, banning indoor dining and keeping businesses closed two days a week as the coronavirus positivity rate hit seven percent in Sindh and 14 percent in the provincial capital of Karachi that day.

The proposals were presented during a meeting headed by Sindh Chief Secretary Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah.

Last month, the Pakistan government lifted nearly all coronavirus restrictions around the country as infection figures showed a constant decline. But numbers have once again picked up, promoting health authorities to mull new curbs.

Around 3.5 million coronavirus vaccine doses have been administered in the province, the health secretary said, adding that vaccines were being administered at 647 centers and through 347 mobile teams.

The proposals came hours after Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, said the government would use whatever administrative measures were required, including calling in the Pakistan Army, to ensure compliance with non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

He added that smart lockdowns would also be used again “controls and restrictions [were] needed on mobility as well.”