ISLMABAD: Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Reforms Asad Umar has tested postive for the novel coronavirus.

“Just got my covid test result and it is positive. Will be isolating at home,” he said in a statement on twitter. Asad Umar also heads the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) which oversees the coronavirus situation in the country.

Just got my covid test result and it is positive. Will be isolating at home.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 18, 2020

Pakistan’s COVID-19 positivity rate stands at 7.59 percent, with close to 3,000 new infections and 84 deaths reported over the past 24 hours. The total tally of cases stands at 451,494.