ISLAMABAD
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) announced on Wednesday a ban on indoor gatherings and restrictions on schools in cities where the coronavirus positivity rate is above 10 percent.
The country reported 5,472 new Covid-19 cases, the highest single-day tally since August last year, according to health ministry data. The total number of cases rose to nearly 1.14 million since March 2020. Eight people died due to Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, pushing the death toll to 29,037.
The country is currently facing a fifth wave of coronavirus infections fuelled by the highly transmissible omicron variant of the disease. “Amid rising trend of disease across the country; detailed stock of the disease situation and currently enforced NPIs (non-pharmaceutical interventions) was carried out at NCOC in consultation with all federating units,” the NCOC said in a notification.
“Indoor gatherings banned, outdoor up to 300 (people) for districts with a positive rate more than 10 percent, with effect from Jan 24,” the NCOC said.
“Schools will be allowed to open with 50 percent attendance (staggered days) for students below the age of 12 years. For students (fully vaccinated) over 12 years.”
There will be a complete ban on indoor dining. Outdoor dining for fully vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed.
Indoor gyms, cinemas, shrines and amusement parks will be allowed to operate at 50 percent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals.
There will be a complete ban on contact sports like karate, boxing, martial arts, water polo, kabaddi and wrestling.
The highest positivity rate has been recorded in Karachi, Pakistan’s largest city and capital of Sindh province, which is reporting around 60 percent of the country’s total new infections. Karachi’s positivity rate is 36.58 percent, according to NCOC data. In Lahore the rate is 13.69 percent, in Hyderabad 12.88 percent, and in the federal capital Islamabad 10.47 percent.
Active coronavirus cases in the country have shot up from 39,881 to 44,717 in the last 24 hours, the highest since October 6. Coronavirus infections in Pakistan are doubling every week on average and could strain the country’s healthcare system in two weeks’ time, Dr Rana Muhammad Safdar, the director-general of health, had warned.
