ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday directed all provinces to vaccinate educational staff against Covid-19 by June 10 in order to ensure the safe continuation of the education sector.
According to a press statement issued by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday, the vaccination of professionals associated with the education sector has been made mandatory by the authorities which would be completed by June 10.
The decision on mandatory inoculations was taken in the NCOC meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and National Coordinator Lt Gen Hamood Uz Zaman Khan with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan also in attendance via video link
The NCOC also set dates for examinations of grades 10 and 12 to be held from June 23 to July 29. The forum decided that provinces would be allowed to open staggered classes for grades 10 and 12 from May 31 for exam preparations, subject to compliance with stringent Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
Tougher restrictions on tourism
The government will implement strict restrictions on the tourism sector from June 1 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK).
Those tourists aged above 30 will not be okayed for hotel bookings until the provision of a negative COVID-19 report.
Inbound passengers
It has been decided to only allow inbound passengers from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) holding negative PCR reports from the designated laboratories. Those airlines will face fines in case of non-compliance with the regulations devised by the higher authorities.
The NCOC said that the authorities have taken effective steps to stop the arrival of inbound passengers holding fake PCR reports. Moreover, the COVID-positive passengers from the UAE will be quarantined immediately.
Reopening parks, swimming pools
The NCOC decided to reopen parks, swimming pools and water parks in specific districts from May 30 where the COVID-19 positivity rate is below 5 percent. Only 50 percent of people will be allowed to enter the parks, swimming pools and water parks across the country.
Decline in coronavirus-related cases
Pakistan continues to report a decline in coronavirus-related cases and deaths on Saturday, as the positivity ratio of cases has reduced to 4.42 percent.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported 2,455 cases and 73 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 916,239 while the death toll stands at 20,680.
There were 55,442 tests conducted in the past day, while the positivity ratio has dropped to 4.42%, making it the fifth consecutive day since the ratio remains below 5 percent.
There are still 58,857 active cases in the country while 4,132 remain in critical condition. Overall 836,702 people have recovered from the virus so far, including 2,136 in the past day.
Punjab still remains the most affected region and has recorded 338,377 cases and 9,960 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province stands at 20,142. Islamabad has recorded 81,007 cases and 755 deaths while there are 5,981 active cases in the federal capital.
Sindh has recorded 315,410 cases and 5,003 deaths while the number of active cases in the province has increased to 24,432. The number of coronavirus cases in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa stands at 131,775 and 4,043 deaths while Balochistan has recorded 25,001 cases and 273 deaths.
