The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) lifted on Wednesday all the coronavirus-related restrictions, restoring the usual daily life after a gap of two years, Planning Minister Asad Umar announced.
Umar, who heads the nerve centre of the government’s unified anti Covid strategy, told a press conference that the ongoing vaccination campaign was being expedited further to ensure that the country’s entire population had been immunised.
It was decided in the NCOC meeting today to lift all restrictions except the vaccination restrictions. All those who are not vaccinated must get fully vaccinated so that they can avoid all restrictions. We will continue to monitor disease pattern closely & take action if needed
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) March 16, 2022
The announcement came as the Covid pandemic that disrupted life of billions of people around the globe since the start of 2020, was showing signs of dissipating. Over that period, Pakistan faced five waves of the infectious disease that affected more than 1.5 million people and killed more than 30,000.
“All restrictions, which were imposed to curb the spread of Covid-19 pandemic in the country, have been removed after witnessing a continuously declining COVID positivity ratio during the last eight weeks,” Umar told the joint press conference with Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Heath Dr Faisal Sultan.
Read No deaths from Covid reported since Saturday
The minister said that currently only fully vaccinated people were allowed to travel by air but added that this restriction would also be removed after achieving about 80-85% vaccination target.
“The authorities are expediting the vaccination campaign to provide vaccine cover to 100% population,” he added. Umar emphasised that Covid-19 was ending but it had not yet ended. He stressed the need for taking second dose of the vaccine as soon as possible to end the pandemic. “About 70% population has been provided full vaccine cover. Efforts are afoot to bring 100% population under the vaccine cover.”
The minister assured that the NCOC would continue monitoring the situation on a daily basis and it would recommend immediate measures in case of any emergent situation. He also congratulated the departments concerned, especially health workers, for their efforts to tame the virus.
At the outset of the press conference, Umar noted a significant decline in the single day tally of new cases, fall in the number of patients in critical care and an ebbing national positivity ratio. "We need a transition process towards a normal, ordinary life,” he said.
“It seems at the moment that the pandemic will continue and become a part of our lives,” the NCOC chief continued. “The vaccination mandate will remain in place, because the coronavirus is not over yet.
Statistics 16 Mar 22:
— NCOC (@OfficialNcoc) March 16, 2022
Total Tests in Last 24 Hours: 34,698
Positive Cases: 493
Positivity %: 1.42%
Deaths :4
Patients on Critical Care: 567
Lifting the ban may increase the number of cases but the government will take required action again.”
The first case of coronavirus emerged in the country on February 26, 2020. Almost a month later, the government formed the NCOC – a forum to ensure a unified response to the global pandemic. Since then, the NCOC has been issuing the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to control the virus spread.
(WITH INPUT FROM APP)
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