NCOC decides to further tighten restrictions

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ISLAMABAD, MAR 22 (DNA) – National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday has decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to rise in coronavirus positivity.

In a post on social-networking website Twitter, Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar has said, “In the NCOC meeting this morning, we decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to sharp increase in covid positivity.”

“The provincial and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administrations were also directed to tighten implementation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) and crackdown on violations which are taking place,” he added.   Education, health ministers to meet on March 24 to decide opening of schools

Meanwhile, country’s education and health ministers will meet on Wednesday (March 24) to decide about opening of educational institutions or extend the closure for few more weeks. he federal and provincial education and health ministers will attend the meeting which will be chaired by Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mahmood.

“The third coronavirus wave is serious; requires careful review. All education/health ministers will meet Wednesday March 24 at the NCOC to take a decision regarding opening or further closure of educational institutions. Health of students, teachers/staff primary consideration,” Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood tweeted.

Pakistan has reported 20 deaths in the last 24 hours by novel coronavirus as the number of positive cases has surged to 630,471. The nationwide tally of fatalities has jumped to 13,863.

According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), 3,669 persons tested positive for COVID-19 in the past 24 hours. Sindh remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic in terms of cases followed by Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad.

Till now 263,290 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Sindh, 199,040 in Punjab 80,037 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 52,086 in Islamabad, 19,342 in Balochistan, 11,704 in Azad Kashmir and 4,972 in Gilgit-Baltistan.

Furthermore, 5,982 individuals have lost their lives to the epidemic in Punjab 4,479 in Sindh, 2,215 in KP, 545 in Islamabad, 336 in Azad Kashmir, 203 in Balochistan, and 103 in GB.

Pakistan has so far conducted 9,817,491 coronavirus tests and 43,498 in the last 24 hours. 583,538 coronavirus patients have recovered in the country whereas 2,423 patients are in critical condition. = DNA

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