Tag: NCOC

  • ‘Well done Pakistan’: 58% of eligible population fully vaccinated

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has said that 58 per cent of Pakistan’s eligible population has been fully vaccinated against Covid-19. He also mentioned that Pakistan has set a record by administering 2.24 million Covid-19 vaccination doses in a day.

    “Another record set with 2.24 million vaccinations in a day. Last 4 days in a row we have vaccinated more than 2 million each day. Every 3 out of 4 Pakistanis eligible for vaccination have received at least 1 dose. 58% are fully vaccinated. Well done Pakistan,” the minister wrote in his tweet.

    As per the National Command Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 3,498 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 39 people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • NCOC allows 50 per cent crowd in Lahore leg of PSL, children under 12

    NCOC allows 50 per cent crowd in Lahore leg of PSL, children under 12

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has allowed 50 per cent crowd for Lahore leg of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) after a session chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar was held. The forum discussed the pandemic data, national vaccination progress, inbound health protocols and second leg of the ongoing PSL.

    Read More – PSL teams to arrive in Lahore today and tomorrow

    As per NCOC, “PCB has been allowed to conduct PSL Lahore matches with 50% stadium capacity for fully vaccinated spectators till February 15, 2022, however, from February 16 onwards 100 % stadium capacity for fully vaccinated spectators will be allowed. Children under 12 years of age (un-vaccinated) will also be allowed.”

    “RAT test for Inbound Passengers on arrival at Pakistani airports has been abolished with effect from February 8, however, RAT test will continue to be conducted for deportees from foreign countries and for non-vaccinated individuals arriving from land border terminals,” added NCOC in its statement.

    Days before the start of the PSL’s seventh edition, the NCOC had reduced the crowd capacity to 25 per cent in light of rising coronavirus cases. But now, as the positivity rate lowers, the forum has revised its decision.

    The Lahore leg matches will be staged completely under the lights of the Gaddafi Stadium. The matches will kickstart on February 10, with the unbeaten Multan Sultans facing off against Peshawar Zalmi.

  • Punjab Govt fixes new price of Covid 19 PCR test

    Punjab Govt fixes new price of Covid 19 PCR test

    The new price of Corona PCR test in Punjab has been fixed at Rs 4,800, reports Geo News. The private hospitals and laboratories in the province will have to abide by the new price.

     “All hospitals and private laboratories are hereby directed to charge Rs4800 for the test,”  the handout issued by the Punjab Healthcare Commission read

    The Punjab Healthcare Commission has said that laboratories which do not comply with the price will be sealed and fined.

    As per the National Command Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan recorded 7963 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 27 people losing their lives to the deadly virus

  • Schools to close in Lahore if more than three Covid cases found, 5,000 school tests a day

    Schools to close in Lahore if more than three Covid cases found, 5,000 school tests a day

    The Punjab government has decided to start widespread coronavirus testing in Lahore schools and colleges. As per the Punjab Health and Education Departments, students above the age of 12 years will be tested for Covid-19.

    5,000 daily tests will be conducted in different educational institutes of Lahore. If three cases of Covid-19 are reported in an educational institution, it will be shut down immediately.

    If two Covid cases are reported in a classroom, it will be sealed.

    As per NCOC, Pakistan recorded 5196 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours with 15 people losing their lives to the deadly virus.

  • Only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter mosques: NCOC

    Only vaccinated individuals will be allowed to enter mosques: NCOC

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) issued a notification on Saturday with new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for mosques and other places of worship. NCOC, during a meeting today, revised the SOPs amid a sharp increase of Covid-19 cases in the country.

    Following are the new restrictions for mosques:

    • Only fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed to mosques/worship places
    • Masks have been made mandatory in places of worship
    • Carpets to be removed
    • 6 feet distance to be maintained
    • Elderly, people with flu-like symptoms, and children to offer prayers at home
    • Short sermon for Jumma prayer
    • Minimal attendance for prayers
    • Doors and windows of mosques to stay open for ventilation.
    • It is better to perform wudhu at home

    On January 21, Pakistan reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in the country since the Covid-19 pandemic began. In 24 hours, 7,678 cases were reported.

  • Pakistan records highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began

    Pakistan records highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began

    Pakistan has recorded the highest number of Covid-19 cases since the pandemic began. As per the National Command and Operating Center (NCOC), the country recorded 7678 new cases of the deadly virus. The positivity rate has increased to 12.93 per cent.

    Moreover, 23 people lost their lives and 961 patients are in critical condition.

    The total number of cases has risen to 1,353,479 and the death toll is 29,065.

    Read more- NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    A ban on indoor dinning in major cities including, Lahore, Islamabad, Karachi, and Hyderabad will be enforced from today.

  • COVID-19: Pakistan ranks number 2 in performance for measures taken against the virus

    COVID-19: Pakistan ranks number 2 in performance for measures taken against the virus

    Pakistan has been ranked number two in The Economists’ world normalcy index, that measures recovery and opening up of society and economy post COVID-19. The Economist has compiled data from January 2021 to January 2022.

    Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives and head of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Asad Umar, while sharing the screenshot of the report wrote. “Pakistan ranked number 2 in the world in Economist global normalcy index measuring recovery post covid opening up of society & economy. Pak was 3rd in the first evaluation and number 1 in the second. Pakistan is the only country in the world to be in top 3 in all three rankings.”

    Read more- NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    Yesterday, NCOC announced a ban on indoor gatherings and events have been banned in the districts and cities with Covid-19 positivity rate exceeding 10 per cent. 

  • NCOC allows 25 per cent spectators for PSL 7 Karachi-leg matches

    NCOC allows 25 per cent spectators for PSL 7 Karachi-leg matches

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has allowed 25 per cent crowd attendance for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) 7 Karachi-leg matches, which will be played at the National Stadium from January 27 to February 7.

    As per the press release isuued by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), the decision means around 8,000 spectators will be allowed inside the venue each match day. However, to ensure their health and safety as well as others attending the matches, the spectators’ entry will be subject to strict Covid-19 protocols, which are:

    • Individuals above the age of 12 years must be fully vaccinated
    • Valid vaccination certificates must be shown at the time gaining access to the stadium
    • Wearing of masks inside the venue is mandatory
    • Anyone violating the NCOC guidelines shall be liable to be evicted out of the stadium

    PCB Chief Operating Officer and PSL Tournament Director Salman Naseer said: “Spectators are the essence of any sport event and in this background, we now hope to set the stage with 25 per cent crowds to attend the Karachi matches of the HBL PSL 2022.”

    “As a responsible organisation, we completely understand our obligations in relation to health and safety of the fans and will leave no stone unturned in strictly implementing the NCOC guidelines.”

    Read More – NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    “However, we will also require complete and unconditional support from the spectators so that they and others can continue to enjoy the matches in a safe and secure environment. This is something they can do by simply following the guidelines,” it added.

    The NCOC will make a decision closer to time for the Lahore-leg matches scheduled for the Gaddafi Stadium, which will be played from February 10-27.

  • NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    NCOC bans indoor events in cities with Covid positivity rate over 10%

    According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), all indoor gatherings and events have been banned in the districts and cities with Covid-19 positivity rate exceeding 10 per cent. However, only outdoor wedding events are allowed to be organised with a maximum of 500 guests.

    The ban will go into effect from January 24 , the NCOC said.

    The decisions were taken after the NCOC held a detailed review of the country’s current coronavirus situation along with the corresponding Nonpharmaceutical Interventions (NPIs). The forum differentiated the new NPIs depending on whether districts have Covid-19 positivity rate up to 10 per cent or above.

    The NPIs to be implemented are as follows depending on the positivity rate and specify that they are for fully vaccinated individuals:

    Gatherings

    • Indoor gatherings allowed up to 300 individuals, outdoor up to 500 for districts with positivity up to 10pc
    • Indoor gatherings banned, outdoor up to 300 for districts with positivity rate more than 10pc (with effect from Jan 24)

    Weddings:

    • Indoor weddings allowed up to 300 individuals, outdoor up to 500 for districts with positivity rate up to 10pc
    • Indoor weddings banned, outdoor up to 300 for districts with positivity rate more than 10pc (with effect from Jan 24 and will remain effective till February 15)

    Dining:

    • Indoor and outdoor dining both allowed for districts with positivity rate up to 10pc
    • Indoor dining banned (with effect from Jan 24), outdoor allowed for districts with positivity rate more than 10pc

    Education sector:

    • Education activities will continue for those under and over 12 in districts with positivity rate up to 10pc
    • Education activities will continue with staggered attendance at 50pc capacity for those under 12 and 100pc attendance for those over 12 in districts with positivity rate more than 10pc
    • Those over 12 will need to be fully vaccinated in both situations
    • Vaccination will be mandatory (at least one dose) for those over 12 from Feb 1
    • Aggressive sentinel testing to be carried out for targeted closures in institutes with high disease prevalence
    • Federating units in consultation with health authorities will decide limits for closure of educational institutions

    Gyms, cinemas, shrines, amusement parks:

    • Indoor activities allowed for districts with positivity rate up to 10pc
    • Indoor activities allowed at 50pc capacity for districts with positivity rate more than 10pc

    Sports:

    • All sports activities allowed for districts with positivity rate up to 10pc
    • Ban on contact sports (karate, boxing, martial arts, rugby, water polo, wrestling and kabaddi) for districts with positivity rate more than 10pc

     

    The NCOC decided that markets and business activities will continue without any restrictions. Employers are encouraged to let people work from home where possible.

    Similarly, intercity public transport has been restricted in districts with high coronavirus positivity ratios at 70pc and 80pc in railways. The ban on serving of meals was also maintained for public transport and domestic air travel.

    The curbs come as the country is in the grip of the fifth wave, which is being driven by the highly transmissible Omicron variant.

    It should be noted that in the last 24 hours, the coronavirus positivity ratio in Pakistan was 9.48pc when 5,472 infections were recorded, with Sindh and Punjab leading the charge in new cases reported.

    Owing to a surge in the number of Covid-19 cases, several educational institutions in Islamabad and Karachi have also decided to close all schools to curb the rapid spread of the virus.

  • Sindh bans meals in public transport amid Omicron upsurge

    Sindh bans meals in public transport amid Omicron upsurge

    A notification issued by the Home Department, Government of Sindh, on Tuesday says that “in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 3(1) of the Sindh Epidemic Diseases Act, 2014 (The Sindh Act VIII of 2015) is pleased to impose ban on serving of meals / snacks in domestic air travel and public transport within the territorial jurisdiction of the province of Sindh with effect from 17 January 2022 and till further orders”.

    The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on Saturday banned the serving of meals on domestic flights in line with the directives of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to curb the spread of Omicron variant of coronavirus in the country while Sindh has also banned meals in public transport.

    The NCOC decided to extensively engage with provinces, especially with the Sindh government, for necessary measures to tackle the rising disease.

    The Sindh Home Department empowered the deputy commissioners, additional deputy commissioners, assistant commissioners, Mukhtiarkars, as well as the transport department and police officers not below the rank of inspector to take legal action against any violation of the direction.