Wearing masks in public places declared mandatory

ISLAMABAD: Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Zafar Mirza has said that wearing masks in public places has been declared mandatory as the COVID-19 cases are increasing on a daily basis.

While addressing a press conference today, Zafar Mirza said that surgical and cloth masks can be used during traveling in public transport, trains, or going to mosques, shops and bazaars. However, the government has now decided to make it mandatory as lockdowns have been eased, he added.

He further said face masks are mandatory for all the citizens coming out of their houses, adding that the face masks shall cover the nose, mouth, and chin.

The minister said that it wasn’t necessary for people to wear surgical masks only, adding that people could wear ordinary masks or a piece of cloth to protect others from getting infected from them.

During the past 24 hours, 78 patients have lost their lives due to COVID-19 while four health workers also died of the disease, he added.

The SAPM further said so far health authorities have conducted 532,000 tests, continuing that in the past day 12,020 tests were done, out of which 2,429 came positive.

Mirza added that the local transmission ratio of the COVID-19 has reached 92%, while the percentage of recovery cases is 36%. He cautioned that there is a dire need to follow the SOPs and guidelines to limit the spread of the COVID-19.

The minister urged people not to spread wrong information on social media, especially regarding hospitals.