ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) today (Wednesday) has lifted a number of COVID-19 restrictions, including the staggered reopening of schools and resumption of outdoor dining.
The development came after Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar chaired a meeting to review the precautionary measures. SAPM Health, Sindh health minister, and chief secretaries of all federating units attended the session via video link.
According to a press release issued after the meeting, the coronavirus-monitoring body allowed the staggering reopening of educational institutions in districts where the positivity rate is less than five percent from May 24.
Other important decisions regarding restrictions were:
Outdoor restaurants will be opened daily till midnight while takeaway will be allowed 24/7, from May 24. Tourism sector will be reopened under strict COVID-19 protocols, from May 24.
From June 1, outdoor marriage ceremonies will be allowed with a maximum of 150 people. Educational institutes in all districts will be reopened in a staggered manner from June 7.
However, certain restrictions will remain in place:
All shrines, cinemas, amusement parks and indoor gyms will remain closed. Indoor dining will remain closed. All contact sports, festivals, cultural, musical and other events will be banned. Inter-provincial public transport will remain suspended on the weekends from May 22.
COVID-19 situation in Pakistan
Pakistan neared another grim landmark of 20,000 fatalities on Wednesday when the country reported 104 new deaths from coronavirus. At least 104 lost their lives to the contagion, raising the nationwide death toll to 19,856.
According to National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 41,771 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours from which 3,256 returned positive. The total caseload of confirmed virus cases in the country is 886,184.
The coronavirus positivity rate stands at 7.79% whereas about 799,951 people have recovered across Pakistan from the virus.
