Ban on gatherings reimposed to preempt third virus wave

ISLAMABAD – Pakistan on Sunday re-imposed a blanket ban on all kinds of public gatherings across the country in an effort to curb the virus spread.

The decision was taken at a meeting of the National Command and Operations Centre that deals with the anti-virus strategy in Islamabad, with Planning Minister Asad Umar in the chair. 

According to officials, the ban on social, cultural, political, sports, and other events is effective immediately, whereas the order on weddings, both indoor and outdoor, will take effect from April 5. The government also announced the enforcement of expanded lockdowns in worst-hit districts (8% positivity percentage), including Islamabad from Monday.

The Forum took detailed stock of epidemic curve chart data, update on non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs or alternate measures to treat the disease other than medical treatment) and vaccination process.

The Forum imposed complete ban on marriages (including indoor and outdoor) from 5th April onwards. However, the provinces would have the discretion to implement restrictions in early time frame as per the situation on ground. 

With 4,767 new infections, 57 deaths reported in a day

The NCOC would also provide updated hotspot maps to the provinces for enforcement of expanded lockdowns (ranging from a union council to an entire town) with effect from 29th March. The Forum had also decided that all kind of gatherings both indoor outdoor would be banned with immediate effect including all social, cultural, political, sports and other events.

The Forum also considered various options for reduction of inter-provincial transport whereas the final decision would be taken based on the input from provinces and analysis of data regarding number of inter provincial commuters via air, rail and road.

The Forum directed the provinces to ensure that vaccination targets given by NCOC were timely met. Moreover, it added that correct and timely data ingestion in National Immunisation Management System (NIMS) be ensured by all provinces.

The national tally on Sunday of total active COVID-19 cases recorded 44,447 with 4,767 more people tested positive for the deadly virus and 2,647 people recovered from the disease during the last 24 hours. 

Fifty-seven corona patients have died during past 24 hours, 53 of whom were under treatment in hospital and four out of the hospital in their respective quarantines or homes, according to the latest update issued by the National command and Operation Centre (NCOC). 

During the last 24 hours most of the deaths had occurred in the Punjab followed by Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

Out of the total 57 deaths occurred during last 24 hours, 20 of the deceased had died on ventilators during their treatment.

The maximum ventilators were occupied in four major areas including Multan 70 percent, Islamabad Capital Territory 62 percent, Gujranwala 60 percent and Lahore 55 percent. 

The maximum Oxygen beds (alternate oxygen providing facility other than ventilator administered as per medical requirement of COVID patient) was also occupied in four major areas of Gujrat 98 percent, Gujranwala 85 percent, Peshawar 78 percent and ICT 56 percent. 

Around 388 ventilators were occupied elsewhere in the country while no COVID affected person was on ventilator in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Balochistan.

Some 45,656 tests were conducted across the country on Saturday, including 9,424 in Sindh, 19,377 in Punjab, 8,160 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), 6,460 in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), 1,054 in Balochistan, 350 in GB, and 831 in AJK.

Around 595,929 people have recovered from the disease so far across Pakistan making it a significant count with over 90 percent recovery ratio of the affected patients.

Since the pandemic outbreak, a total of 654,591 cases were detected that also included the perished, recovered and under treatment COVID-19 patients so far, including AJK 12,367, Balochistan 19,497, GB 4,999, ICT 55,594, KP 84,609, Punjab 212,918 and Sindh 264,607. 

About 14,215 deaths were recorded in country since the eruption of the contagion. Around 4,491 perished in Sindh where four deaths occurred in hospital during past 24 hours.

6,229 in Punjab had died with 39 deaths occurred in past 24 hours. At least 35 of them died in the hospital and four out of hospital. 2,283 in KP where nine of them died in hospital on Saturday, 559 in ICT among two deaths in hospital during past 24 hours,  206 in Balochistan among one death recorded in hospital during past 24 hours, 103 in GB and 344 in AJK among two of them succumbed to the deadly virus in hospital on Saturday. A total of 10,066,726 corona tests have been conducted so far, while 631 hospitals are equipped with COVID facilities. Some 3,631 corona patients were admitted in hospitals across the country.

Public gathering at graveyards banned on eve of ‘Shab-e-Barat’

Islamabad Capital Territory Administration (ICTA) has banned any kind of public gathering in graveyards on the eve of ‘Shab-e-Barat’ falling on March 29 (tomorrow).

The decision was taken following National Command and Operation guidelines to control further spread of coronavirus pandemic, according to a notification issued on Sunday.

The Assistant Commissioners/ magistrates and local police were asked to ensure compliance in all graveyards of the federal capital including H-8 and H-11.

However burials as per COVID-19 protocols would be allowed, it added. 

Meanwhile in another notification the local administration also prohibited all kinds of wedding ceremonies (both indoor and outdoor) with effect from April 1, 2021.

It also clarified that all kinds of other indoor or outdoor events/ gatherings, indoor/outdoor festivals, sports tournaments, culture activities, social activities, religious gatherings are also banned.