Tag: NCOC

  • Schools to reopen in districts with less than 5% covid positivity ratio: NCOC

    The National Command and Operations Centre on Wednesday allowed the reopening of schools in districts with less than five per cent coronavirus positivity ratio.

    The meeting reviewed the ongoing situation of coronavirus in the country.

    Key decisions

    From May 24, outdoor restaurants will be opened daily till 11:59 pm, and takeaway will be allowed 24/7.

    The tourism sector will be allowed to operate under strict coronavirus protocols.

    Outdoor marriage ceremonies with a limit of 150 individuals will be permitted.

    Opening of educational institutions from June 7 (other than those opened from May 24).

    Meanwhile cinemas, indoor dining, indoor gyms, amusement parks, shrines, all kinds of festivals, cultural and other events shall remain banned till further notice.

    June 1 onwards, several sectors will be allowed to open after a review meeting on May 27.

    In addition to this, the NCOC decided all SSC and HSSC exams will be held after June 20, while conducting professional and non-professional exams would take place on a case-to-case basis on recommendations from the Ministry of Education.

    The forum decided that wearing masks would remain compulsory.

    The NCOC had earlier imposed a lockdown in the country during the Eid holidays in order to stop the spread of the virus amid the deadly third wave.

  • Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Malik Riaz, wife, refuse to get tested for coronavirus at the airport, home

    Real estate tycoon Malik Riaz, his wife, and another member of his team allegedly refused to undergo Rapid Antigen Testing (RAT) for coronavirus when landing at Lahore airport, violating the instruction of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC).

    In a letter written to the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) headquarters in Karachi, Lahore airport chief operating officer and manager Akhtar Mirza said the Bahria Town CEO refused to give samples for the Covid-19 test. The team of airport health staff went to his residence to follow up with a test but Riaz refused to take the test.

    Letter written to the CAA, regarding Malik Riaz refusing to take the Covid test

    Riaz, along with four other people, landed at Lahore Airport from Dubai. After the passengers passed through the immigration process, the CAA duty staff requested Riaz and his fellows to undergo the RAT, which is a rapid diagnostic test that directly detects the presence or absence of the antigen and gives results within few minutes.

    “But they did not respond and rapidly moved towards international arrivals exit gate,” Mirza stated in the letter.

    Riaz, Bina Riaz and Shahid Mahmood Qureshi, “left the airport without [the test] which is an open violation of NCOC instructions and SOPs”, the letter added.

    The CAA management then contacted the government health team and Riaz’s personal staff officer to obtain the RAT samples from the property tycoon’s residence. A two-member team of airport health staff subsequently left for Riaz’s house shortly “but unfortunately once again [he] flatly refused to give samples for the requisite test.”

    The letter was submitted to the airport services director at CAA Karachi headquarters for his “information and further necessary action”.

    After detection of the coronavirus in some passengers arriving in Pakistan and despite them having negative PCR test results, the CAA tightened the rules regarding testing.

  • Vaccination registration for ages 30 and above to start from Sunday

    Vaccination registration for ages 30 and above to start from Sunday

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday allowed citizens aged 30 and above to sign up for Covid-19 vaccination from Sunday (May 16).

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar tweeted, “As vaccine supply continues to improve and vaccination capacity gets enhanced in all Federating units, we continue to expand the categories of those who are eligible to get vaccinated.”

    Asad Umar announced that from Sunday, registration will be open to all 30 years and older citizens for Covid-19 vaccine.

    On May 3, Pakistan opened registration for the coronavirus vaccination for people aged between 40 to 49 years across the country.

    Special Assistant to CM Punjab for Information Dr Firdous Ashiq Awan tweeted that the corona vaccine will be given to the journalist community on a priority basis.

    “The process of vaccinating Punjab journalists will begin after the Eid holidays,” Firdous tweeted.

    A digital portal has been launched by the federal government for the registration through which a code is assigned to the person and then they can go to a designated vaccination centre and get a jab.

  • ‘Educational institutions to remain closed till 23rd May’

    The National Command and Operation Centre has announced an extension in the closure of educational institutions given the prevailing situation of COVID-19 in the country. The decision was taken during the meeting of NCOC held earlier on Saturday.

    “In today’s NCOC session, it is decided that in view of ongoing disease trends, education institutes earlier closed till May 17 will continue to remain closed till May 23,” read a tweet from NCOC’s official Twitter account.

    “Review will be carried out on May 18, 2021,” it added.

    Earlier, the NCOC announced a complete ban on tourism, for both locals and outsiders. The ban shall be observed from May 8-16, the week leading up to and including the Eid holidays. In addition to that, all tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls; all hotels and restaurants in/around tourist/ picnic spots to remain closed.

    On May 7, Pakistan witnessed a death toll of 120. The country has recorded 4,109 confirmed COVID in the last 24 hours with a positivity rate of 8.54%.

  • ‘Complete ban on tourism’ – NCOC’s Eid regulations

    ‘Complete ban on tourism’ – NCOC’s Eid regulations

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced a complete ban on tourism, for both locals and outsiders. The ban shall be observed from May 8-16, the week leading up to and including Eid holidays.

    All tourist resorts, formal and informal picnic spots, public parks, shopping malls; all hotels and restaurants in/around tourist/ picnic spots to remain closed.

    All travel nodes leading to tourist/picnic spots both in Northern areas and in South to remain closed. Locals, especially people belonging to Gilgit Baltistan and AJK will be allowed to travel back home.

    The NCOC will form monitoring teams at federal, provincial, and district levels to ensure the implementation of coronavirus SOPs.

    All business and shops to remain closed during this time period, with exceptions like food outlets, grocery stores, paramedics, petrol pumps and bakeries etc.

    On Monday, Pakistan witnessed a total death toll of 161 individuals, due to Covid-19. The country has recorded a total of 837,523 confirmed Covid cases, with current positivity rate of 8.9%.

  • ‘Ban on Eid travel’ – Govt announces strategy for Eid

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced Eid-ul-Fitr Holidays in Pakistan from May 10 to May 15. The announcement came after NCOC’s meeting on Thursday which was chaired by Minister for Development and Planning Asad Umar.

    During the meeting, NCOC also recommended restricting international flights to Pakistan from May 5 to May 20, according to Samaa News. However, the detailed instructions will be issued by The Civil Aviation Authority.

    Comprehensive standard operating procedures (SOPs) will be issued for Youm-e-Ali, Aitekaf, Shab-e-Qadar, Juma-tul-Wida, and Eid prayers by May 1, said the press release.

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) had earlier advised the government to give Eid Holidays from May 10 to 16 as the country battles the most lethal wave of coronavirus.

    To reduce mobility during the forthcoming Eid-ul-Fitar NCOC has announced a “Stay Home, Stay Safe” strategy from May 8 to May 16.

    Here are the Comprehensive guidelines by the name of “STAY HOME-STAY SAFE — Eid-ul-Fitr-2021 from 8-16 May 2021” announced by NCOC:

    • All markets, businesses, and shops will remain closed except for essential services.
    • Chaand Raat bazaars will be banned.
    • Complete ban on tourism
    • Inter-provincial, inter-city, and intra-city public transport will be banned but private vehicles will be allowed to operate with 50 per cent capacity.
    • Media channels will broadcast special Eid Holiday packages to keep public at home.

    Vaccinations for people in Pakistan aged 40 to 49 years will open May 3, the NCOC also decided in the meeting.

    Pakistan is experiencing a third wave of coronavirus. As per NCOC, Pakistan has recorded 5,450 new cases and 151 deaths with a positivity rate of 9.61%. The 151 death toll is the highest Pakistan has seen since the pandemic began.

  • Two-week lockdown in 20 cities by May 3?

    Two-week lockdown in 20 cities by May 3?

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has sought input of provincial governments for a two-week lockdown in 20 cities.

    Pakistan’s top monitoring body wrote letters to the provincial authorities where the coronavirus situation is extremely bad and the restrictions imposed by the authorities have failed to stem the spread.

    Within the past 24 hours, Pakistan has recorded its highest tally of both single day deaths and infections, 201 and 5,292, respectively.

    The letter titled ‘Input / Feedback — City Wise Lockdown’ came after a meeting of the body on Apr 27.

    In the letter, the authorities directed that a two-week city-wise lockdown in affected districts was cautiously planned and provinces need to carry out necessary planning at the earliest.

    The most-affected cities where the lockdown could be imposed include Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Bahawalpur, Hyderabad, Peshawar, Dir Lower, Mardan, Nowshera, Malakand, Charsadda, Swat, Swabi, Muzaffarabad, Sudhnuti, Poonch and Bagh.

    The letter also comes amid warnings from the government in case people continue to flout COVID-19 SOPs and the third wave situation continues to worsen.

  • Govt cancels all exams until June 15

    In lieu of rising cases of COVID-19 Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood on Tuesday announced that no examinations will take place in the country until June 15.

    “O’ and A’ Level exams have been cancelled and will now take place in the October-November cycle,” said the minister in an announcement.

    “Exams of Classes 9, 10, 11 and 12 which were supposed to begin from the end of May have been delayed further,” added the minister. “No board exams will be held till mid-June (June 15).”

    He also added that another meeting of the NCOC will decide in the third week of May to decide whether these exams will be postponed further or not.

    The minister also took time to answer the questions of students :

    #ImranKhanCancelExams and #ImranKhanJawabDou were among the top trends on Twitter from the past few days as National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and the Government of Pakistan refused to cancel this year’s O’ and A’ Level exams and went on to take the exams as scheduled.

    Pakistan is currently experiencing a deadly third wave of COVID-19 with fears of an India-like situation and students argued that the exams not only pose a risk to their health but they have also been unable to prepare for them because of school closures. The high courts in Lahore, Islamabad, Peshawar and Karachi also dismissed students petitions.

  • Vaccination registration for ages 40-49 to start from April 27

    Vaccination registration for ages 40-49 to start from April 27

    Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar has announced that Pakistan will commence COVID-19 vaccination registrations for ages 40-49 from April 27.

    The minister also said that the National Command and Operations Centre has decided to start walk-in vaccinations for all registered citizens aged 50 and above.

    “In today’s NCOC meeting decided to open up registration of 40 plus age citizens starting tomorrow. Also, decision taken to allow walk-in vaccination of all registered citizens of 50 plus age group,” said Umar, urging all eligible persons to register for the vaccine.

    Pakistan is currently vaccinating citizens who are 50 plus and healthcare workers with Chinese vaccines including Sinopharm. According to the NCOC, over 1.8 million people have been vaccinated in the country so far.

    Meanwhile, more than one billion doses have been administered worldwide, according to a tally by AFP. More than half, or 58 percent, have been given in three countries: the United States with 225.6 million doses, China with 216.1 million doses and India with 138.4 million.

    In terms of the proportion of the population who have been vaccinated, Israel is in the lead, with nearly six out of every 10 Israelis fully inoculated. That is followed by the United Arab Emirates with more than 51 percent of the population has received at least one jab, Britain with 49 percent, the US with 42 percent, Chile with 41 percent, Bahrain with 38 percent and Uruguay with 32 percent.

    WATCH – Canadian man celebrates COVID-19 vaccination with bhangra

    Pakistan is currently battling against the third wave of COVID-19 with a total of 800,452 cases. The country has reported 4,825 cases and 70 deaths in the last 24 hours.

  • Pak Army to help implement coronavirus SOPs, announces PM Imran

    Pak Army to help implement coronavirus SOPs, announces PM Imran

    Prime Minister Imran Khan on Friday announced that there will not not be a complete lockdown but in order to control the situation, people must follow SOPs. PM appealed to the nation that if they follow SOPs and wear masks regularly, Pakistan will not have to take any strict measures. PM said that despite suggestions of lockdowns in cities, he has not taken this decision as it affects the poor the most. “Be careful yourself. Otherwise we will have no other option.”

    PM said that the Pakistan Army will assist the police in imposing SOPs.

    Key decisions taken by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC):

    1. Schools in districts with positivity rates above 5% closed until Eid
    2. Markets to close at 6pm. Only shops selling essential goods to operate after 6pm
    3. Outdoor and indoor dining banned during Ramzan
    4. Indoor gyms to be closed
    5. Offices to close at 2pm daily with 50% capacity. Rest of the staff to work from home