ISLAMABAD: Amid a surge in the novel coronavirus cases during the fifth wave of virus fuelled by the Omicron variant, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has made vaccination compulsory for people offering prayers in mosques.
Under the SOPs issued on Friday, only vaccinated individuals are allowed to offer prayer in mosques or worship places while wearing face masks has been declared mandatory.
According to the notification, the worshippers will be required to maintain a social distancing of at least six feet and mosques have been asked to remove mats and carpets from their premises.
The NCOC has also advised elderly and comorbid persons to prefer offering prayer at home. The SOPs also recommended use of hand sanitiser frequently and organising prayer in open spaces or ensure proper ventilation to contain the spread of the contagious disease.
The coronavirus monitoring body also asked the mosque-goers to prefer performing ablution at home and recommended short sermons for Friday prayer.
On Wednesday, the NCOC announced a set of new restrictions in cities with an over 10% Covid-19 positivity ratio. The meeting had decided to impose a complete ban on all types of indoor gatherings, including dine-in and wedding, and all types of contact sports in the districts and cities where the Covid-19 positivity rate exceeded 10%.
In the Covid hotspots, outdoor weddings have been restricted to 300 fully vaccinated individuals, while outdoor dining and takeaway will be allowed. Education activities have also been limited in the virus hotspots, according to the NCOC.
“Schools with students under-12 years of age will have 50% attendance with a three days per week schedule, whereas schools with students over 12 years of age will have 100% attendance,” the NCOC added.
