National Command and Operation Centre on Monday stated that, in light of the declining trend in coronavirus infections, several Covid-19 limitations would be lifted, including the ban on indoor dining.
Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives and head of the NCOC Asad Umar held a meeting of the country’s Covid response hub on Monday to assess the coronavirus situation across Pakistan.
Due to a decreased trend of Covid infections across the nation, the forum stated that several Covid-19 limitations will be lifted on July 1st.
It has now permitted restaurants to operate at 50 percent indoor capacity only for vaccinated individuals.
In a statement, the NCOC said indoor and outdoor dining had now been allowed till 11:59 pm, while indoor dining would be at 50 percent occupancy only for vaccinated individuals.
Restaurant and hotel management would institute a mechanism for checking of vaccination certificates of guests and will also ensure vaccination of respective management and staff, the NCOC said, adding takeaways will be allowed 24/7.
The NCOC meeting also allowed markets across the country to remain open till 10 pm.
With regard to weddings, the forum decided that up to 400 guests would be allowed for outdoor weddings subject to Covid-19 standard operating procedures. Indoor weddings would also be allowed, according to the press release, for up to 200 vaccinated individuals.
The forum also ordered the management of wedding halls to institute mechanisms for checking vaccine certificates of attendees and ensure staff vaccinations.
“Cinemas are allowed to re-open with strict Covid protocols for vaccinated individuals only till 1 am,” said the press release, adding that a similar requirement for management to ensure staff vaccination and a way to check visitors’ vaccine certificates.
As many as 20 more people succumbed to coronavirus and 914 new cases emerged during the last 24 hours showed the data released by the NCOC on Monday morning.
According to the statistics released by NCOC, the death toll has now surged to 22,231 after the addition of 20 new deaths, which represents a ratio of 2.3 percent.
The positivity ratio of the coronavirus cases in Pakistan has dropped to 2.05 percent, as 914 new coronavirus cases emerged in the last 24 hours after conducting 44,496 tests. It takes the total cases tally to 955,657 that returned positive after conducting 14,460,890 total tests so far.
The number of active cases in the country is 32,225 with 1,961 patients in critical condition.
There were 910 more recoveries recorded in the last 24 hours as the number of total recovered cases reached 901,201 with a 94.3 percent recovery rate.
PUNJAB:
Punjab, the most populous province of the country, has reported 104 new cases in the last 24 hours, taking the provincial tally to 345,900 with 8,659 active cases. In Punjab, 8 more patients died of coronavirus as the death toll reached 10,729. With 281 new recoveries, 326,512patients have recovered from the virus in Punjab so far.
SINDH:
Sindh has recorded 521 new cases during the last 24 hours taking the provincial tally to 336,076 with 19,284 active cases. With 8 new deaths related to the deadly disease, the death toll in Sindh reached 5,418. With 369 new recoveries, 311,374 patients have recovered from the virus in the province so far.
KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA:
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has recorded 131 new cases during the last 24 hours taking the tally to 137,759 with 1,825 active cases. The province reported 4 new virus-related deaths as the death toll reached 4,308. With 113 new recoveries, 131,626 patients have recovered from the virus in the province so far.
BALOCHISTAN:
Balochistan has recorded another 61 new cases during the last 24 hours taking the tally to 27,064 with 837 active cases. The province reported no new death as the death toll remains 307. With 46 new recoveries, 25,920 patients have recovered from the virus in the province so far.
ISLAMABAD:
Islamabad has recorded 31 new cases during the last 24 hours taking the tally to 82,596 with 960 active cases. With no new death reported in the Federal Capital, the death toll remains 776. With 45 new recoveries, the number of recovered patients is 80,860 in the federal capital so far.
AZAD JAMMU AND KASHMIR:
Azad Jammu and Kashmir has recorded 31 new cases during the last 24 hours taking the tally to 20,243 with 437 active cases. With no new deaths reported, the death toll remains at 582. There were 28 new recoveries in the AJK as 19,224 patients have recovered so far from the virus.
With additional input from INP
