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ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Tuesday decided to ease Covid-19 related restrictions in cities with a positivity rate of less than 10 per cent in light of “improved disease trends”.
“In view of improved disease trends, NPIs are being eased out for cities with less than 10 per cent positivity,” said a statement issued by the NCOC. However, curbs will remain in place in six cities with a positivity of more than 10pc, including Karachi and Hyderabad.
The NCOC, in consultation with all federating units, has devised a differentiated approach based on the following positivity criteria:
NPIs for cities/districts with positivity up to 10 %
In cities and districts with a positivity rate below or up to 10 per cent, the NPIs will be eased. Indoor gatherings and weddings for fully vaccinated individuals are allowed with a maximum limit of 300 individuals while outdoor events for fully vaccinated individuals are allowed with maximum limit of 500 people.
Indoor and outdoor dining are also allowed for fully vaccinated individuals while gyms, cinemas, shrines, amusement parks, and sports are authorised to function at full capacity.
Educational institutes for children above and below 12 years of age are authorised to remain open with stringent Covid protocols.
Curbs to remain in 6 cities
Cities with a positivity rate of more than 10 per cent, as identified by the NCOC, are Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mardan, Karachi, Hyderabad, and Peshawar.
In these cities, restrictions will continue to be enforced. Ban on all indoor gatherings and weddings will continue while outdoor events are allowed with a maximum limit of 300 vaccinated individuals.
The complete ban on indoor dining will continue. Gyms are allowed to function at 50 per cent capacity for fully vaccinated individuals and the same applies to cinemas, shrines, and amusement parks. A complete ban has been issued by the NCOC on contact sports such as karate, boxing, martial arts, rugby, water polo, kabaddi, and wrestling.
Schools and other educational institutions in these cities have been advised to continue with staggered attendance for children under 12, while classes with fully vaccinated children above 12 are allowed at full capacity.
The country’s nerve centre for Covid-19 response stated that the NPIs will be reviewed on February 21.
General NPIs
The NCOC handout also included details about curbs that would remain in place across the country, regardless of the positivity rate. According to the forum, market/business activities will continue without any restrictions on timings.
Public transport will have an occupancy limit of 70pc, but individuals will have to be fully vaccinated. “Mask-wearing will continue throughout the journey. A ban on serving of meals/snacks will continue,” the statement said.
On the other hand, an occupancy limit of 80pc will be in place for railways. Passengers will have to be fully vaccinated and will have to wear face masks throughout the journey.
Offices will operate on normal working hours with 100pc attendance. “All employees to be fully vaccinated; however, work from home is encouraged.”
In addition, there is a ban on meal/beverages being served during domestic flights and face masks will have to be worn during the duration of the journey.
Regarding wearing face masks, the NCOC said: “Compliance to compulsory mask-wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement. Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by all federating units.”
The handout added that targeted lockdowns, with stringent enforcement protocols based on risk assessment, will continue.
