NCOC announces new restrictions amid surging COVID-19 cases

National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday has announced a number of new restrictions for cities where the positivity rate was more than eight percent.

The forum in its meeting voiced “grave concern” over the current situation of the coronavirus in Pakistan and “unanimously agreed” upon a number of high-impact interventions in cities and districts where the three-day rolling positivity rate average was over 8%. 

The cities include Peshawar which has reported the highest positivity rate at 19.98%, followed by Swat at 17.09%, Faisalabad at 16.69%, Muzaffarabad at 15.56%, Lahore at 14.72%, and Multan at 14.17%.

Furthermore, the cities of  Bahawalpur, Rawalpindi, Islamabad, and Hyderabad are also included in the list.

The new set of restrictions will remain in effect till April 11 and a review of the COVID-19 situation will be held on April 7.

“In cities with positivity less than 8%, already imposed NPIs (non-pharmaceutical interventions) will continue to be enforced based on risk assessment/disease prevalence,” the forum said in a statement.

The new restrictions to be implemented across the country as follows;

1. Implementation of broader lockdowns during which no movement will be allowed except for emergencies.
2. Closure of all indoor dining options while outdoor dining till 10 pm and takeaways will be allowed.
3. Closure of all commercial activities, other than essential services, by 8 pm.
4. Gatherings of up to 300 people will be allowed with strict observance of Covid-19 SOPs (standard operating procedures).
5. All indoor gatherings involving cultural, musical/religious, or miscellaneous events will be banned.
6. Cinemas and shrines will continue to remain closed.
7. All contact sports, festivals, cultural and other events will be banned.
8. Outdoor marriage events with up to 300 guests will be allowed for two hours only. However, all indoor marriage events will be banned.
9. All amusement parks will be closed while walking and jogging tracks will remain open.
10. Fifty percent of work from the home policy will continue for all public and private offices and courts.
11. Intercity public transport will operate at 50pc of capacity.
12. Rail service will operate at 70pc of capacity.
13. Mask wearing will be compulsory and will be ensured by all provincial and federal authorities through the incorporation of innovative measures.
14. There will be a reduced presence of people at courts at all levels.
15. Strict protocols will be ensured for tourism in Gilgit Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu, and Kashmir and tourist places across the country. Sentinel testing sites will be established at entry points and other selected locations.
16. Two safe days will be observed per week that will be decided by provincial authorities.

NCOC also announced that a review of previous decisions taken regarding educational institutions would be held on March 24 (Wednesday).

Read More: NCOC Announces Closure Of Schools In Seven Punjab Cities Until March 28

Federal Minister for Planning and Development and NCOC head Asad Umar, after the meeting in a tweet, shared that it had decided to increase restrictions on activities contributing to a sharp increase in the positivity rate.

In the NCOC meeting this morning we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to sharp increase in covid positivity. The provincial & ICT administration were also directed to tighten implementation of sop's and crackdown on violations which are taking place.

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 22, 2021