Tag: SOPs

  • Covid-19: NCOC eases curbs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

    Covid-19: NCOC eases curbs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

    The National Command Control Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday announced that from tomorrow (February 24), requirement of negative PCR report for passengers travelling to Pakistan has been abolished for fully vaccinated travellers.

    According to the new orders, pre-boarding negative PCR has been abolished for inbound travellers who are fully vaccinated. It also says that passengers below 12 years of age are exempted from mandatory vaccination. Passengers between 12-18 years of age are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31, 2022.

    The Sindh government on Tuesday revised Covid-19 restrictions. Ban on indoor dining and weddings have also been lifted.

    Under the new relaxed rules, the following will apply:

    Gatherings

    • Indoor gatherings of all types, including weddings, with a cap of 500 fully-vaccinated guests will be allowed
    • Outdoor gatherings allowed with strict enforcement of safety protocols

    Dining

    • Ban on indoor dining has been lifted. And, outdoor dining for fully-vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed

    Business timings

    • Businesses will continue without time restrictions

    Office routine

    • Offices will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity of fully vaccinated workers with normal working hours

    Education sector

    • Institutes for children under 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols.
    • Institutes for children above 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols (fully vaccinated)

    Public transport

    • Public buses will be allowed to operate with 80% of their seating capacity. Wearing masks will be mandatory throughout the journey. However, a complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

    Gyms

    • All gyms will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Shrines

    • Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Cinemas

    • All cinemas will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Amusement Parks

    • Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

    Sports

    • All types of sports are allowed for vaccinated individuals

    Domestic air/land travel meals

    • A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the in-flight or land journeys for domestic travel will remain imposed till February 28

    Railways

    • Railways will operate with a 100% occupancy level for vaccinated individuals only
    • A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

    Mask wearing

    • Compliance with compulsory mask-wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement
    • Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by the respective district administration

    Extended lockdowns

    • Smart lockdown with stringent enforcement protocols based on disease clusters.

    Pakistan’s daily Covid-19 death toll witnessed an increase after several days.

  • New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand PM cancels own wedding due to Omicron restrictions

    New Zealand Prime Minister (PM) Jacinda Ardern has cancelled her own wedding as the nation imposes new restrictions in the wake of the Covid-19 Omicron variant.

    The prime minister was rumoured to be planning to marry her longtime partner Clarke Gayford.

    “My wedding will not be going ahead,” she said.

    In a briefing, Ardern said, “I just join many other New Zealanders who have had an experience like that as a result of the pandemic and to anyone who’s caught up in that scenario, I am so sorry.”

    She also urged citizens to get booster and reduce contact with others to avoid the spread.

    In a video, she was asked by a reporter how she felt about the postponement of her wedding, Ardern replied: “Such is life.”

    The “red setting” of the country’s pandemic response includes heightened measures such as mask-wearing and limits on gatherings which will go into effect on Monday.

    The latest curbs come after nine cases of Omicron were detected in a single family that flew to Auckland for a wedding earlier this month.

  • 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.

  • #KarachiEatCanWait trends as event continues with 28 percent positivity rate

    #KarachiEatCanWait trends as event continues with 28 percent positivity rate

    Karachi, where Covid-19 positivity has reached more than 20 per cent and the provincial government is directing towards a lockdown, the food festival Karachi Eat 2022 has kicked off today, despite immense backlash.

    A number of people want the festival to be called of which is currently is taking place in the port city from January 14 to January 16 at Beach View Park in Clifton. The administration has directed visitors to “mask up and strictly follow to the SOPs.”

    However, a number of people have questioned the authorities if organising a food festival when Covid-19 cases are on the rise in a city is a “wise idea?” Here are some of the reactions.

    https://twitter.com/MasomAriba/status/1481969056861282308?s=20

    https://twitter.com/TayyebaZee/status/1481636360167452672?s=20
  • ‘Covid vaccination mandatory for naat khuwans, scholars in Rabiul Awal celebrations’: NCOC

    ‘Covid vaccination mandatory for naat khuwans, scholars in Rabiul Awal celebrations’: NCOC

    The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has issued coronavirus guideline for Rabiul Awal celebrations across the country. It is mandatory for religious scholars and naat khuwans to be fully immunised against Covid.

    At a meeting led by Asad Umar, it was decided that only licensed and government-approved rallies will be allowed.

    Here are other SOPs issued by the NCOC:

    • Strict implementation of SOPs at milads.
      It is compulsory for people to wear masks, use sanitisers, and maintain social distancing at celebrations.
    • Ulemas and naat khuwans to be fully vaccinated against coronavirus.
    • The government has urged media houses to run live transmissions of milads and other celebrations. This way more people will be able to take part in the celebrations without having to physically attend them.
    • Special vaccination camps to be set up on 10th Rabiul Awal.
    • Venues for milads and other celebrations should be open and airy.
    • A six-feet distance in seating arrangements should be ensured.
    • Thermal scanners to be set up at entrance points.
    • Sanitisers and masks to be provided at the entrance.
    • Health desks to be established at all venues.
      Only packed food to be distributed.

    Earlier, the Sindh government imposed a ban on pillion riding on Eid Milad-un-Nabi, the 12th of Rabiul Awal. It will be celebrated on October 19.

    Women, children below 12 years of age, senior citizens, journalists, disabled persons, law enforcers, and employees of essential services have been exempted from the ban.

  • Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crosses 5 per cent

    Pakistan’s Covid positivity rate crossed 5 per cent for the first time after nearly two months.

    The current infection rate stands at 5.2 per cent with a continuous spike in the cases.

    National Command and Operation Centre’s (NCOC) data from Thursday shows that 48,910 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours and 2,545 of them came back positive for coronavirus.

    With 47 new fatalities from the virus, the national death tally soared to 22,689.

    NCOC chief Asad Umar warned: “Indian variant has caused devastation in countries in the region.”

    Umar asked everyone to follow the directives necessary in relevance to Covid protocol and said, “Do not risk your own and others lives.”

  • Early signs of fourth Covid wave in Pakistan, warns Asad Umar

    Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar Friday said there are clear early signs of the fourth Covid-19 wave starting in Pakistan due to poor compliance of SOPs and the spread of the Delta variant.

    The federal minister, who is also the chief of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), said that he had warned two weeks back that the government’s artificial intelligence models are showing possible emergence of the fourth wave in July.

    Asad Umar added that field reports were showing a complete disregard of the condition of vaccination for those attending indoor weddings, and going to indoor restaurants and gyms.

    “If the owners of these facilities do not show responsibility and ensure compliance, there will be no choice but to shut them down,” said Umar.

    Pakistan recently recorded a positivity rate of 3.27 per cent. The last time the positivity rate was 3 per cent was in June.

    The present positivity rate of the virus is 3.6 per cent.

    Asad Umar expressed displeasure over non-compliance with the Covid-19 protocols and warned of shutting down sectors not adhering to the directives issued by the health authorities.

  • Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate back up at 3 per cent

    Pakistan’s coronavirus positivity rate passed the three per cent mark Wednesday morning for the first time in the last 20 days. 

    The country recorded a positivity rate of 3.27 per cent. The last time the positivity rate was 3 per cent was in June.

    According to the latest statistics by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), 46,287 Covid-19 tests were conducted across the country in the last 24 hours, out of which 1,517 people tested positive for the virus.

    The NCOC had warned of strict restrictions as it has observed violation of coronavirus SOPs in several sectors following the relaxation of curbs.

  • Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    Eidul Azha: Govt issues guidelines for cattle market to curb Covid-19 spread

    The Federal Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation, and Coordination on Tuesday issued guidelines for Eidul Azha in line with the government’s Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).

    As per reports, the document has been issued to provide health guidelines to the general public, cattle vendors and customers to control the spread of COVID-19 by practicing social distancing and  following precautionary measures at the cattle market while buying or selling a sacrificial animal.

    Guidelines for sellers:

    • Animal vendors will have to follow the following guidelines while selling an animal at the cattle market.
    • It is necessary for all animal vendors and sellers to get vaccinated with any of the available COVID-19 vaccines in the country. Those without proof of vaccination (first dose or complete course) may not be allowed to do business in the market.
    • Every seller must wear a face mask covering nose and mouth all the time.
    • The seller should wash their hands with soap and water frequently or use an alcohol-based (70%) hand sanitiser.
    • Stalls should be set up at a distance of at least two metres from each other while ensuring enough space between animals. The supporting arrangements must be made by the local authority.
    • Seller and customers should try and maintain a safe distance of two metres. 
    • Seller and customer must not shake hands and avoid any other physical contact 
    • The seller must keep a disinfection formulation with 0.5% diluted bleach or 60%-80% dilute alcohol solution to disinfect the most frequently used surfaces by customers. 
    • Each salesperson must wear gloves for touching the animals. 
    • Any seller with symptoms of cough, sore throat, fever etc., would not be allowed to sell animals in the market. They will have to arrange a replacement for themselves.
    • Each seller must ensure queue control and maintaining the advised two metres distance in his allocated space in the market/ mandii. 
    • The sellers must keep themselves aware of the updated instructions issued by the government and should strictly follow them.

    Read More: Eid ul Azha: 5 things that can only happen in Pakistan

    Guidelines for Customers:

    • The buyer must wear a surgical/medical mask properly (cover nose and mouth) at all times.
    • The customers should not go to the market/ mandii if they are feeling any flu-like symptoms, cough, sore throat or fever.
    • Sanitise hands properly before and after going to the market.
    • Buyers should also wear gloves if they plan to touch the animals.
    • People visiting the market should avoid touching the surfaces in the market unnecessarily. 
    • Maintain two metres distance from the seller or other peoplepresent in the market.
    • Follow the safety guidance provided by the local management and cooperate with the staff
    • If a customer observes non-compliance to the guidelines by the individual seller, remind them and/or report to the local authorities.
  • Karachiites ignore Covid-19 protocols, as people head to beaches to beat the heat

    Karachiites ignore Covid-19 protocols, as people head to beaches to beat the heat

    Pakistan has shown great progress in its fight against the coronavirus pandemic.

    However, Karachiites seemed to have completely ignored the government’s call for maintaining precautions during the third wave. Videos on social media show how crowded the beaches were on the weekend.

    People gathered at the beach to beat the heat. Temperatures regularly hover around 40 degrees and the humidity only makes it worse.

    Pakistan has only fully vaccinated 3.4 million people. The government has asked citizens to avoid crowds and maintain social distancing.

    The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country are 949,175 with positivity rate of 2.6 per cent.