Pakistan cities, areas with highest COVID positivity rate

Addressing a news conference after the National Coordinating Committee (NCC) meeting, Prime Minister Imran Khan warned that "If our situation becomes the same as India, we will have no choice but to close down cities. But we can't do that as experience has shown that daily wagers and labourers suffer the most when lockdowns are imposed,”.

He also announced that the “government will seek the help of Pakistan Army to enforce coronavirus Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).”

Which cities of Pakistan have higher COVID positive cases?

Minister of Planning and head of the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC)Asad Umar said that "in case the rising Corona cases are not brought under control, the concerned departments will be asked to plan a complete lockdown."

As of Thursday, the rising COVID-19 cases in Pakistan's 17 largest cities and districts are more than 5 per cent, according to the World Health Organization. This means that if 100 people are tested in these areas, more than five people will be diagnosed with coronavirus.

The cities that are struck hard by the virus include the four provincial capitals, including Islamabad, Rawalpindi, and Gujranwala.

Besides, Mardan, Multan, Bahawalpur, Nowshera, Hyderabad, Muzaffarabad, Swat, Faisalabad, Abbottabad and Gilgit also have a positive case rate of 5% or more.

According to the WHO, the highest rate of positive cases in Pakistan is 34.3% in Mardan. It is followed by Multan with 33.6 per cent and Peshawar with 26 per cent positive cases.

Other cities including Bahawalpur has 22%, Nowshera 21% and 20% in Hyderabad.

The virus blowout rate is 18.6 per cent in Lahore, 10.7 per cent in Karachi, 10.3 per cent in Islamabad and 10.4 per cent in Quetta.

 Important decisions taken in NCC meeting

• Schools in cities with positivity rates above 5% closed until Eid, including classes 9-12
• Markets to stay open till 6 pm. Only essential businesses can operate after 6 pm. A list of essential business will be issued.
• Outdoor and indoor dining banned until Eid. Takeaway and deliveries will be allowed.
• Indoor gyms to be closed.
• Offices capacity at 50% and are to be closed daily at 2 pm. 
• Eid shopping will not be possible after iftar.
• 50% work from home policy to be implemented in offices.