NCC meets today to discuss new anti-Covid measure

Asad Umar says NCOC recommendations will be presented in meeting

ISLAMABAD:

The National Coordination Committee on Covid-19 will meet on Tuesday (today) with Prime Minister Imran Khan in the chair, to discuss additional measures to contain the rising spread of coronavirus in the country.

Planning Minister Asad Umar said on Monday recommendation of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to contain the pandemic would be presented in the meeting.

The meeting has been summoned against the backdrop of the second wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The disease first emerged in the country in Feb this year and saw a peak in mid-June. The curve was flattened by the end of August but it again showed rising trend in October.

“The NCOC discussed additional measures to control the rising spread of Covid19. Recommendations will be tabled in the NCC being called for tomorrow,” Umar tweeted. He also stressed the need to take immediate measures to stem the disease spread, without affecting economic activities.

The country is in the grip of the second wave of Covid, with positivity rate soars above 4% -- the highest since August. On Sunday, the country recorded 1,123 new cases, also the highest single-day tally in over three months. At least 12 people succumbed to the virus, NCOC said on Monday.

The authorities have issued multiple warnings in the past few days against ignoring the Covid-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs). Last week, the NCOC issued fresh rules regarding the closure of wedding halls and shopping malls and made the wearing of face mask mandatory.

Last month, the government also issued new restrictions for the passengers coming to Pakistan from abroad, making it mandatory for the travellers to have the Covid tests before boarding the flight to any airport in Pakistan.

‘Meeters and greeters’

On Monday, the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) took further measure for the safety of the passengers, barring the entry of the people to the airport. The authority said in a notification that only passengers would be allowed to reach airport, accompanied by a driver of their vehicle.

“As per the instructions of Govemment of Pakistan, in order to curb the spread of COVID-19; meeters and greeters are not allowed at the Airport. Only driver may pick-up the passenger from parking and drop the passenger on drop lane,” the CAA notification said.

“Drivers will stay in the vehicle during pick or drop. Kindly cooperate with the airport authorities in this regard. Your safety is our priority,” the notification added. CAA officials appealed to the people not to visit the airports unnecessarily.

With input from APP