NCOC suggests banning public gatherings, extended winter vacations & closure of dine-in, shrines

Forum also notes decline in SOPs' adherence in mosques

ISLAMABAD:

The country's nerve centre for Covid-19 response on Wednesday suggested multiple measures to stem the rising number of coronavirus cases in Pakistan including limiting large public gathering and enhancing restrictions in high-risk areas.

The latest recommendations come days after the government ordered work-from-home policy for half of the staff in both public and private sector offices and relatively broader smart lockdowns in the urban centres of the country as part of the second phase of measures to curb the spread of coronavirus pandemic.

Pakistan recorded at least 1,700 cases – highest in more than three months – during the last 24-hour period. During the same period, at least 21 people succumbed to the virus and more than 55 were declared critical.

The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) meeting today, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning Asad Umar, reviewed the epidemic curve data and the disease's prevalence in the country.

"Since mid-October, when NCC first considered the NCOC recommendation to ban large public gatherings daily cases have nearly tripled," the Minister Umar said in a tweet.

NCOC has once again recommended to ban all large public gatherings. Rapid increase in positivity requires urgent steps to save lives & livelihoods. Since mid October, when NCC first considered the NCOC recommendation to ban large public gatherings daily cases have nearly tripled

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 11, 2020

"The national political leadership across the political spectrum needs to demonstrate leadership to send a message to the entire nation for taking preventive steps and follow sop's," the minister urged.

The national political leadership across the political spectrum needs to demonstrate leadership to send a message to the entire nation for taking preventive steps and follow sop's. Consensus needed in NCC for taking this decision, which has been delayed due to lack of consensus

— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) November 11, 2020

The forum was informed that the number of cases have nearly tripled since the NCOC's earlier recommendation, on October 12 and then on November 3, to the National Coordination Committee (NCC) to ban large public gatherings and outdoor activities. However, no consensus has yet been reached by the stakeholders.

In regards to Covid-19's positivity ratio in educational institutions, the forum was informed that there is a need to check the trend. The federal education minister would chair a meeting on Nov 16 of provincial education ministers to review the same trend..

After consultative discussions, the recommendations would be shared with the provinces for a decision and its enforcement. It would include the NCOC's suggestion for an early and extended winter break to reduce the impact of disease spread and ensure the safety and health of students.

Other recommendations put forth by the body are to limit public gatherings – political, religious, cultural, entertainment and civil society in nature – to a maximum of 500 people.

The NCOC has also issued guidelines on marriage ceremonies, limiting them to outdoor events with an upper limit of 500 people, to be effective from Nov 20.

It was also recommended in the meeting to limit restaurants and eateries to outdoor dining till 10pm and take-aways. Other suggestions included the closure of shrines in the country and early closure of markets with designated 'safe-days'.

The country's Covid-19 response centre further suggested an increase of restrictions for high-risk sectors. These urgent recommendations have been relayed to the NCC for final approval.

The NCOC appreciated adherence to SOPs in mosques for the last many months, however, it noted a decline in compliance at present and urged the stakeholders to keep following the procedures in place.

The response centre also suggested to the NCC to increase restrictions on high-risk sectors and particularly large public gatherings. It recommended urgent and emergency measures to NCC for final approval after consensus by all stakeholders.

Earlier, the NCOC stated that the second phase of precautionary measures would be imposed in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Multan, Hyderabad, Gilgit, Muzzafarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad.