Daily Times

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Friday announced that fully vaccinated individuals can now visit cinemas and shrines. The decision was made during an NCOC meeting headed by Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar.

During the meeting, the forum reviewed the coronavirus situation in Pakistan in proportion to the level of complete vaccination in each district.

The forum stressed that people must get themselves vaccinated, considering it a national obligation. It abolished the mandatory weekly one-day closure, allowing businesses to operate seven days a week.

A statement issued by the NCOC said that the decision to lift the restriction of safe-days has been made keeping in view the decline in the spread of virus and ongoing vaccination drives in the country.

Moreover, the restriction pertaining to the number of guests in indoor weddings has been eased, with 300 guests now allowed instead of the previous 200.

Outdoor weddings and events can now have 500 guests. The latest changes in restrictions will come into force from October 16 and remain imposed till October 31. The restrictions will be reviewed in an NCOC meeting on October 28.

Meanwhile, Federal Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Minister Asad Umar, who also heads the NCOC, urged citizens in a tweet to get vaccinated.

Sharing the results of a survey conducted by Gallup Pakistan, he said: “According to the survey, 86 per cent people believe that the [country] could overcome the corona[virus] soon. We are thankful to the nation from the bottom of our heart for [showing] confidence [in us], but it would only be possible if people get vaccinated at the earliest. Otherwise, there is a risk of the spread of the corona[virus] picking up pace with the arrival of winter.”

The NCOC’s revised guidelines have come as the country continues to see a decline in the Covid-19 positivity rate, which was recorded at two per cent reported today (Friday). According to the NCOC, a total of 1,086 Covid-19 cases and 27 deaths have been reported from across Pakistan over the past 24 hours.

Last week, the NCOC had permitted the resumption of on-campus classes for schools from October 11.