ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan has called a meeting of the National Coordination Committee (NCC) on Tuesday as cases surge amid the second wave of coronavirus.
The country witnessed 1,167 new COVID-19 cases in a single day — the highest in over three months. As per the updated statistics on the National Command and Operation Centre, 14 people also succumbed to the virus in a day, taking the death toll to 6,849 in the country.
Around 27,984 Coronavirus tests were conducted in the country during last 24 out of which 1,167 resulted positive. Fourteen new deaths were reported from virus infection, while 728 people are still in critical condition.
The National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 will meet to discuss additional measures to contain the rising spread of coronavirus in the country. Planning Minister Asad Umar said the recommendation NCOC to contain the pandemic would be presented in the meeting.
The meeting has been summoned against the backdrop of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic which has again shown a rising trend since October. “The NCOC discussed additional measures to control the rising spread of Covid19. Recommendations will be tabled in the NCC being called for tomorrow,” Umar tweeted. He also stressed the need to take immediate measures to stem the disease spread, without affecting economic activities.
The country is in the grip of the second wave of COVID-19 with positivity rate soaring above 4 percent – the highest since August. On Monday, the country recorded 1,123 new cases, also the highest single-day tally in over three months, while at least 12 people succumbed to the virus.
The authorities have issued multiple warnings in the past few days against ignoring COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Last week, the NCOC issued fresh rules regarding the closure of wedding halls and shopping malls and made the wearing of face mask mandatory.
Last month, the government also issued new restrictions for the passengers coming to Pakistan from abroad, making it mandatory for the travellers to have the virus tests before boarding the flight to any airport in Pakistan.
The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has barred the entry of the people to the airport. The authority said that only passengers would be allowed to reach the airport accompanied by a driver of their vehicle.
