Commercial activities will be allowed until 10pm while amusement parks will be shut by 6pm
The National Command Operation Center (NCOC) announced a number of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) for controlling the spread of coronavirus across the country. These steps include the continued application of smart lockdowns in hotspots, ensuring SOPs are followed, and closures of educational institutions in parts of the country among others.
Offices in Islamabad will be allowed 50% on any given day while the decision will be left to the competent authorities in other parts of the country. Amusement parks will be closed by 6 in the evening while commercial activities are limited to 10 in the night. No more than 300 persons can attend outdoor gatherings as per the instructions.
Schools in seven Punjab cities, Islamabad, Peshawar to be closed for two weeks
Schools in Punjab, Islamabad and Peshawar will remain closed between March 15 and March 28 as a measure to counter the fast rise in COVID-19 cases. Exams will be carried out as per schedule in these places. Decision about Muzaffarabad yet to be taken.
“Educational institutions in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Lahore, Gujarat, Multan, Rawalpindi, and Silakot will be closed from March 15 for spring holidays until March 28,” Shafqat said.
Commenting on the current situation, he said, “The good news is that the situation in Sindh and Balochistan is relatively better which is why they can continue to function [as per routine],” the minister added. “Cases have relatively escalated in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, Azad Jammu & Kashmir and Gilgit.”
A potential third wave
There is a serious risk of a third wave of coronavirus in the country. Thousands have already perished due to COVID in Pakistan. The government is trying to contain the spread through non-pharmaceutical options as the availability of vaccines for the masses is still months away, at best. For now, the vaccine is being administered only to frontline healthcare workers and the elderly. It is crucial that the people follow these directives for their own betterment and avoidance of the virus.