Amid a drastic increase in COVID-19 cases in Punjab, Chief Minister Usman Buzdar has announced that Covid-related restrictions will be reimposed in the province.
“Coronavirus, especially the UK- variant is spreading alarmingly in some cities of Punjab,” stated the Punjab CM, adding that strict SOP’s will be implemented in regions where positivity rate is more than 5 percent, for the next 15 days, starting from Saturday night.
According to the notification, indoor weddings and dining will be banned in those regions, whereas educational institutes, parks, shrines will be closed in areas with high positivity rate. In addition to that, markets will close at 6pm.
CM Buzdar further added that a detailed notification in this regard will be issued by health department later.
ان اضلاع میں تمام تعلیمی ادارے، پارکس، ان ڈور شادی ہال، مزارات، میلے، کھیلوں کی سرگرمیوں وغیرہ پر 15 دن کےلیے پابندی ہو گی۔ مارکیٹس شام 6 بجے بند کر دی جائیں گی۔
سمارٹ لاک ڈاؤن SOPs پر بھی سختی سےعملدرآمد کےاحکامات دئیےہیں۔
The notification was issued after CM Buzdar chaired the meeting of the cabinet committee for the eradication of corona and expressed concern over the increase in the number of patients in Lahore and other districts, reported APP.
COVID restrictions for 6 Districts (Lahore, Gujranwala, Sargodha, Faisalabad, Rawalpindi, Multan): 14th March to 28th March ▪ Markets to close at 6pm ▪ Total closure on Saturday – Sunday ▪ Educational Institutions, Shrines, Festivals, Parks, Indoor Marriage Halls to be closed
The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has granted permission to the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to have spectators at the sixth edition of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) scheduled to commence from February 20. As per details, stadiums will be allowed only 20 percent spectators of the total capacity.
According to a press release issued by PCB, the decision means around 7,500 ticketed spectators will be allowed access inside the National Stadium in Karachi per match day, while around 5,500 will be able to attend each match day at the Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.
During the course of the event, the NCOC and the PCB will continue to work together and monitor the situation before a decision to increase crowd numbers for the three playoffs and the final is made.
The NCOC made the decision following a detailed and comprehensive briefing by the PCB officials, in which they assured that the event organisers and the PCB will strictly follow the government’s COVID-19 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), including social distancing.
The press release further said that PCB will soon announce its ticketing policy to provide further clarity to the fans on how they can purchase tickets and the process to enter/exit the venues during the matches.
Thanking NCOC, PCB Chairman Ehsan Mani said: “I am thankful to the NCOC for trusting the PCB and allowing limited fans to watch the live-action of the HBL Pakistan Super League 2021. This is an endorsement that the PCB is an institution, which is capable of planning and then successfully implementing COVID-19 SOPs during its marquee event being staged in Pakistan for the second successive year.
He added: “Fans are the PCB’s biggest asset and we are delighted that no matter a small number, but some will be able to have access to the matches. Their presence will add flavour and excitement to one of the biggest and most challenging leagues in the cricket calendar.”
“I am optimistic that if we can maintain strict protocols during the HBL PSL 2021 matches we will have a strong case for more fans in the 2021-22 season in which we have to host high-profile international teams such as New Zealand, England and the West Indies as well as quality domestic events, including the National T20 Cup, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy and the Pakistan Cup,” concluded Mani.
The HBL PSL season six will be played in Karachi and Lahore from February 20 to March 22.
Araha hai #HBLPSL6 ka mausam! Mark your calendars!
Pakistan cricket legend Shoaib Akhtar has hit out at New Zealand Cricket (NZC) for threatening to cancel Pakistan’s tour after six Pakistani players tested positive for COVID-19 at their managed isolation facility in Christchurch.
Akhtar warned NZC to “behave” themselves for threatening to cancel the tour, accusing the New Zealand governing body of “treating the Pakistan team like a club team”.
“New Zealand’s comment that if Pakistan team’s SOPs (standard operating procedures) are not in place then they will cancel the tour, is below the belt,” Akhtar said in a video on his YouTube channel.
“I want to give a message to NZC that this is not a club team, it’s Pakistan national cricket team,” said the former cricketer. “We don’t need you. Our cricket has not finished.”
Akhtar went on to say, “You will get money for broadcasting rights. So, you should be indebted to us that we decided to tour your country in such difficult times.”
“You are talking about Pakistan — the greatest country on the planet — so behave yourself and stop giving such statements. Be careful next time. Pakistan team now needs to smash them in T20 series.”
“The PCB should show some toughness,” he remarked.
Akhtar also said, “If I was in their place, I would have given a statement saying that if NZC isn’t happy, we won’t play them and will bring our team back and we won’t play against you for five years.”
Earlier, NZC was appraised that some members of the Pakistan team had violated protocols on the first day of managed isolation. The entire team was given a “final warning” by the government for breaching rules.
New Zealand’s Ministry of Health stated that several team members had been seen on CCTV at the facility breaching managed isolation rules despite “clear, consistent and detailed communication of expected behaviors while in the facility”.
In a statement, the ministry said that the team as a whole has been issued a final warning.
The health ministry shared that the 53 members of the squad arrived in Christchurch on November 24 and were tested on day one, with the six cases coming as a result of the tests.
All cases were being moved to quarantine rooms within the facility. Members of the team will be tested a minimum of four times while in managed isolation, the health ministry informed.
While Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has not officially confirmed the names, journalists have shared their pictures which include former captain Sarfraz Ahmed, Abid Ali, Mohammad Abbas, Rohail Nazir, Danish Aziz and Naseem Shah.
According to reports, the players are unhappy in quarantine, especially after the positive cases and the isolation feels like a prison sentence for them.
Players weren’t able to condole with middle-order batsman Khushdil Shah, whose father passed away recently. The process was carried out through phone calls, instead.
Pakistan is set to face the Black Caps in three T20 internationals and two tests, with the first match on December 18.
Students in Quetta were forced to appear in BA and BSc examinations with no heater arrangements.
A video doing the rounds on social media shows that no COVID-19 standard operating procedure (SOPs) were followed at the examination centers. SOPs including social distancing and wearing of masks were overlooked.
Furthermore, very few students can be seen wearing masks in the examination center.
Karachi’s wedding, banquet and lawn owners have rejected the new COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) rolled out by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) after a sharp surge in cases.
The Karachi Marriage Hall, Lawn, Banquet Owners Association held a press conference at the press club on Saturday to denounce the government’s decision to ban indoor weddings.
The association said thousands of employees and other businesses linked with weddings will be affected due to more restrictions and bans.
The president of the association said that wedding hall owners and their thousands of employees had already faced severe financial problems when all the halls were closed between March 13 and September 15 during the lockdown period.
The association members said that when halls reopened after September 15, they did not get business as most people prefer not to get married during Muharram and Safar, which took place after the halls were reopened.
The association said that there are around 800 wedding halls only in Karachi and that the living of 50,000 people and their families are linked to these halls.
“Around 70 to 80% of our employees work on daily wages,” he said, adding that the earning of such employees depended on daily wedding events.
The association pointed out that there are roughly 13,000 wedding halls in the entire country, with which 650,000 labourers’ livelihoods are directly linked. Fifty percent of the city’s industries, the association highlighted, were directly and the rest of the 50% were indirectly linked to wedding halls.
“With the closure of the wedding halls due the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of labourers will be directly or indirectly affected,” said the association’s president.
The government had itself failed to limit the number of people attending its political gatherings and implement the SOPs, stated the association.
“We want to bring this into your knowledge that wedding halls is the only industry which didn’t get any relief from the government since the lockdown of March 13,” said Raees.
He requested Prime Minister Imran Khan, the chief justice of Pakistan and army chief to look into the miseries of the wedding hall owners and their employees.
“We demand SOPs be drafted for wedding ceremonies after taking us on board,” he said.
Pakistan on Tuesday recorded 4.94% COVID-19 positivity rate – highest in three months. But what does this positivity rate mean?
The positivity rate is obtained by dividing the number of people who test positive for the coronavirus with the total number of tests conducted in 24 hours. With that we can determine how many people being tested are actually positive for the virus. This is perhaps, the most important indicator of how the virus is spreading.
According to the details issued by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC), 1,313 new cases were reported across the country. A total of 26,565 tests were conducted. Pakistan has reported 337,573 COVID-19 cases so far.
The country’s death toll stands at more than 6,800 as 18 people lost their lives in the past 24 hours. At least 316,060 have recovered from the virus so far.
The country’s positivity rate dropped to less than 2%, a few months ago, which was a great sign but it started increasing last month and now it is around 5%. The highest positivity rate was 23% in July and the minimum was reported at 1.7% in September.
Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan officially announced that the second wave of the virus has started in the country.
Meanwhile, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has tightened restrictions on some high-risk public activities to control the coronavirus spread.
NCOC has also launched a helpline to report the COVID-19 related violations by the public.
Now people can report the violation of COVID-19 SOPs like non-wearing of the mask, non-adherence to Social distancing, over-crowding at public places etc, at 0335-333-6262 (0335-333-NCOC) along with a picture and the following details: Location name, tehsil/district/city, date and time, event.
Prime Minister (PM) Imran Khan has feared that the second wave of coronavirus could hit Pakistan in winter.
PM Khan said that though Pakistan was “spared [from the] worst effect of COVID-19”, a second wave of the virus is expected in winters.
“There is a fear onset of winter could result in [the] second wave. I urge everyone to wear face masks in public to avoid a spike. All offices and educational institutions must ensure masks are worn,” said the premier on social media.
Compared to some other states, Allah has been kind to us in Pak & spared us worst effects of COVID-19. There is a fear onset of winter could result in 2nd wave. I urge everyone to wear face masks in public to avoid a spike. All offices & ed institutions must ensure masks are worn
Moreso, during the daily briefing held at the NCOC (National Command and Operations Centre) in Islamabad, Federal Minister Asad Umar also urged the public to follow the coronavirus standard operating procedures (SOPs) to ensure cases of the virus do not spike during the winter season.
Six marriage halls and 103 restaurants were sealed in Karachi for violating coronavirus SOPs.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), six marriage halls and 103 restaurants were sealed in the port city over neglecting coronavirus SOPs.
Federal Minister for Planning and Development and Chairman NCOC, Asad Umar said indoor restaurants and marriage halls appear to be majorly contributing to the COVID-19 spread.
“NCOC today has directed all provinces and federating units to crack down on SOPs violations in these places, the minister said in his tweet. We must not allow the irresponsible behavior of some to put the health of everyone at risk,” he said further.
Indoor Restaurants & marriage halls emerging as high contributors to covid spread. NCOC today has directed all provinces and federating units to crack down on sop violations in these places. We must not allow irresponsible behaviour of some to put the health of everyone at risk
On Thursday, authorities in Karachi had also announced a micro smart lockdown in various parts for two weeks after cases of COVID-19 increased in the city.
The city administration sealed several hotels, restaurants in various areas of Karachi over violation of COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs).
As perreports, 10 restaurants were sealed in District Central, two in Clifton, three at Boat Basin food street, and two in the Saddar area of District South, Karachi.
The management of the restaurants were violating SOPs for running the business during the pandemic.
Meanwhile, the Sindh government on Wednesday imposed a “micro smart lockdown” in several areas to control the spread of coronavirus.
According to a notification, the government has imposed micro smart lockdown in different localities of District West, Karachi. The district West areas that have been put under micro smart lockdown include Manghopir Union Council 8 and Gadap Town.
The move came after more than 20 cases were reported from Manghopir Union Council.
Police officials have been positioned in these areas to impose the lockdown restrictions. The provincial government has asked the deputy commissioner and senior police officials in Karachi to ensure micro smart lockdowns and implementation of SOPs at designated sites.
With primary schools set to reopen today (Wednesday) in the twin cities in the third phase of educational institutions reopening after a long break due to coronavirus, the Federal Directorate of Education (FDE) has instructed all area education officers to visit at least seven schools daily and ensure that health guidelines and standard operating procedure (SOP) are being followed strictly.
As per reports, a total of 193 FDE-run primary schools in Islamabad will reopen.
FDE officials said that a team of FDE directors and officers from the Ministry of Federal Education and the capital administration will also visit schools. They added that teams from the Private Educational Institution Regulatory Authority (Peira) will also visit primary schools.
Officials further said that imposing social distancing would be more challenging in primary schools compared to high schools, colleges or universities, particularly with students in nursery to third grade, which is why teachers will have to put an extra effort.
Islamabad-based educational institutions have reported more than 30 cases of COVID-19 out of around 15,000 tests.
Minister for Federal Education Shafqat Mehmood said that the positivity rate is 0.8pc in educational institutions across the country.
At a press conference in Islamabad, he said that out of 171,436 tests carried out in educational institutions – not including primary schools – 1,284 have come back positive for the virus.
He said school administrations, teachers and parents must be more attentive from Wednesday, when primary schools reopen, because young children cannot follow SOPs and practice social distancing on their own.
