Wearing Face Mask Becomes Mandatory As ‘Second Wave’ Of COVID-19 Hits Pakistan

face Mask mandatory second wave covid-19 pakistan

The government of Pakistan fears a second wave of Covid-19. In this regard, on Wednesday, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) made face masks wearing mandatory for the citizens as the second wave of covid-19 hits Pakistan.

Coronavirus cases are spiking up in the country. After Pakistan crossed 11,000 cases, the NCOC gave the directive. Furthermore, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan stated that the second wave of the lethal coronavirus had begun in Pakistan.

The NCOC meeting led by Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar ruled that wearing a face mask will be compulsory in both private and government offices.

Moreover, in a tweet, Asad Umar said, “NCOC today approved the use of antigen testing, in addition to the PCR tests being carried out.”

“This is part of a strategy to increase the level of testing. The symptomatic cases will all still be administered PCR tests. The decision is in line with the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation,” he stated.

Statement of NCOC

As per the statement of NCOC, all provinces have been ordered to certify that denizens wear face masks on a mandatory basis as the second wave of Covid-19 hits Pakistan. Besides, it says, provincial governments must ensure that people following the standard operating procedures (SOPs); especially in markets, shopping malls, public transport, and eateries.

Presently, 4,374 lockdowns have been inflicted across 11 cities in Pakistan. There is a lockdown in Mirpur, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Quetta, Rawalpindi, Karachi, Multan, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Peshawar, and Lahore.

SAPM Sultan talked to the media regarding the coronavirus in Pakistan. “A few weeks ago we were getting 400 to 500 cases per day, but now it has increased to 700 to 750 cases.

Moreover, the mortality rate has also increased. Another ratio which is considered is percentage positivity — the number of positive cases in samples of 100 — that remained less than two percent, but now it has reached close to 3pc,” he stated.

Coronavirus previously wreaked havoc on the masses. However, with the toil, the government successfully flattened the Covid-19 curve. Nevertheless, the second wave has arrived, masses need to take precautions.

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