NCOC commences walk-in Covid-19 vaccination for citizens above 60

ISLAMABAD:

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Saturday announced the commencement of walk-in vaccination facility for citizens aged above 60 years.

Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar presided over the NCOC meeting and the forum also decided to extend the two-day inter-provincial transport ban (on Saturday and Sunday) till 17th May 2021.

The NCOC was informed that a consignment of 0.5 million Sinopharm Covid-19 dosses had reached through a special Pakistan Air Force flight from China.

A detailed briefing was also conducted on the supply of oxygen to health care facilities. The forum was apprised that a total of 6,901 beds had been inducted to meet the increased requirements due to a surge in pandemic cases. The oxygen supply was also being critically monitored.

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The forum also appreciated the National Disaster Management Authority’s (NDMA) efforts in enhancing health care facilities.

So far 2,811 oxygen beds, 431 ventilators, 1,196 oxygen cylinders, 500 BiPap machines and 1,504 finger pulse oxymeters had been inducted into the existing health care system by NDMA.

Keeping in view the surge rate of COVID-19 in the country, the forum deliberated upon proposed lockdowns in high disease prevalence cities if cases continued to increase or critical care facilities in that particular city got overwhelmed.

It was decided that the decision on lockdown would be taken after deliberate discussion amongst all stakeholders.

The purpose of lockdowns would be to contain disease spread through the implementation of SOPs. Few proposed restrictions would include the closure of markets and malls less essential services, ban on intercity public transport and complete closure of educational institutions.

Assistance to LEAs by Army, FC, Rangers, would be provided where requested.