NCOC permits reopening of restaurants, schools from May 24

The educational institutions and Outdoor dine-in in the areas with less than a 5 per cent COVID positivity rate will be opened from May 24. However, the schools and universities will be completely opened from June 7.

A meeting of NCOC in Islamabad chaired by Minister for Planning Asad Umar discussed a future course of action regarding Coronavirus.

Special Assistant on Health, Sindh Minister of Health and Chief Secretaries of all provinces joined the meeting via video link.

As per NCOC, the marriage halls can hold outdoor ceremonies from June 1 maintaining a capacity of 150 people.

"Critical monitoring of disease prevalence and critical health care system is being carried out on daily basis, and necessary steps will be taken accordingly, whenever deemed appropriate to control the disease spread," the statement said.

According to NCOC officials, tourist spots will also be opened from May 24 while outdoor dining in the restaurants will be allowed till midnight.

“The final decision regarding the reopening of sectors from June 1 will be reviewed on May 27”, according to NCOC.

The NCOC maintained that the sanctions on shrines, cinemas, and indoor dining will continue until further notice. The indoor gymnasiums and amusement parks will also remain closed. However, jogging tracks will be opened.

A detailed review of disease prevalence in the country was taken, a statement from the NCOC said.

Following the meeting, important decisions regarding restrictions were taken after extensive deliberations.

From May 24:

• Outdoor restaurants will be opened daily till 11:59 pm and takeaways will be allowed 24/7.
• The tourism sector will be allowed to operate under strict COVID-19 protocols. Separate instructions on protocols are being issued to all federating units.

From June 1:

Several sectors will be allowed to reopen, but a review meeting will be held on May 27.

• Outdoor marriage ceremonies with an upper limit of 150 Individuals will be allowed.
• Staggered opening of educational institutions from June 7 — other than those opened from May 24.
• Meanwhile, shrines, cinemas, indoor dining, indoor gyms, amusement parks, contact sports, festivals, cultural and other events and indoor/outdoor gatherings will remain banned till further notice.
• The interprovincial public transport will remain for two closed days — Saturday and Sunday — from May 22. However, walking/jogging tracks in parks would remain open with strict adherence to COVID-19 SOPs.

Moreover, the NCOC decided all SSC and HSSC exams will be held after June 20, while conducting professional and non-professional exams would take place on a case-to-case basis on recommendations from the Ministry of Education.

It is to be noted that Pakistan is currently facing a third wave of the COVID19. The deadly virus has claimed 19,256 lives with 886,184 total cases to date as per the NCOC report.

The coronavirus positivity rate stands at 7.79% whereas about 799,951 people have recovered across Pakistan from the virus.

In a province-wise breakdown, Sindh has reported 301,247 cases, Punjab 329,913, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa 127,609, Islamabad 79,552, Balochistan 24,064, Azad Jammu and Kashmir 18,360, and Gilgit Baltistan 5,439.