KABUL (SW) – The doors to enter Panjshir province have been closed amid surging cases of the coronavirus in the country, said officials on Thursday.
As the third wave of the pandemic continue to cause fears, local officials in Panjshir announced that the entrance to the province will be closed to visitors.
Mohammad Mansour Anabi, spokesman for the Panjshir governor, told Salam Watandar that the decision was made on the basis of a decision by the provincial security council to prevent the spread of the coronavirus, prevent more Panjshir residents from contracting the virus and protect lives.
Officials of the Panjshir Health Department said that out of 485 suspected cases of coronavirus in the province this year, 8 cases were positive and in May, out of 642 suspected cases, 82 cases were positive.
Sherdil Danesh, head of Panjshir health department, told Salam Watandar that 657 suspicious cases and 246 positive cases were identified in the province in the first 12 days of this month. He welcomed the decision to close the entrance to the province to visitors.
He further said there was shortage of oxygen in the province.
Meanwhile, a number of people who went to Panjshir from Kabul for leisure purposes said that the security forces did not allow them to enter the province.
Panjshir is a mountainous province with lush green valleys and has been relatively safe.
According to statistics provided by local officials in Panjshir, more than 140,000 people, including tourists, visit the province each year, and this year it is estimated that 150,000 to 200,000 people will visit the province if the outbreak of the coronavirus is contained.
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