NCOC directs to further tighten lockdown in wake of increasing covid-19 cases

Last updated on: 29 March,2021 07:24 pm

The prevailing situation of the coronavirus was reviewed in the meeting.

ISLAMABAD (Dunya News) – National Command Operation Center (NCOC) on Monday has decided to further tighten the lockdown to control the third wave of coronavirus. During the meeting chaired by Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar, the prevailing situation of the coronavirus was reviewed while the participants also discussed strategies to prevent further spread of the infection. Decision regarding closure of transport will be taken after holding consultation with the provinces. Earlier, NCOC had expressed concerns over increasing cases of coronavirus across the country and decided to impose complete ban on indoor and outdoor events including marriage ceremonies from April 5. As per the notification issued by NCOC, “all kinds of wedding ceremonies (both indoor and outdoor) are hereby banned. It is also further clarified that all kinds of indoor and outdoor events, gatherings, indoor and outdoor festivals, sports tournaments, cultural activities, social and religious gatherings are also banned.”

The provinces were also directed to strictly follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) to combat the virus. On the other hand, Pakistan has reported 41 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 659,116. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 14,256. According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) 4,525 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours.Punjab remains the worst-hit province in terms of deaths followed by Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Till now 6,229 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab 4,491 in Sindh, 2,283 in KP, 559 in Islamabad, 344 in Azad Kashmir, 206 in Balochistan, and 103 in GB. Furthermore, 264,889 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 215,227 in Punjab 85,531 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 56,450 in Islamabad, 19,525 in Balochistan, 12,484 in Azad Kashmir and 5,010 in Gilgit-Baltistan. Pakistan has so far conducted 10,107,095 coronavirus tests and 40,369 in the last 24 hours. 598,197 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 3,055 patients are in critical condition.