The positivity ratio in Pakistan has crossed 10 per cent on Thursday. In the last 24 hours, 3,946 people tested positive for COVID-19 while 63 lost their lives, according to the latest statistics released by the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC).
As of March 25, the total active COVID-19 cases in the country stand at 37,985. The death toll in the country has crossed 14,000. Till now Pakistan has seen 640,988 COVID-19 cases.
Schools in COVID-19 hotspot areas to remain closed till April 11
All educational institutions across districts in Punjab with a high COVID-19 positivity rate will remain closed until April 11, announced Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood yesterday.
Addressing a press conference after a meeting of the NCOC, the federal education minister said that the decision to keep the institutions closed was taken in the wake of a spike in the coronavirus cases across Pakistan.
He said the schools will remain closed in at least 9 districts of Punjab besides Islamabad, adding that the provincial government will decide on reopening of schools in the light of the coronavirus cases in the respective districts.
Stringent restrictions to fight the third wave in Pakistan
Earlier this week, the NCOC decided to increase restrictions of activities contributing to a sharp increase in the coronavirus positivity rate, said NCOC Chairman Asad Umar in a tweet after a key meeting of the forum.
According to Asad Umar, the provincial and ICT administration were also directed to tighten implementation of SOPs and crackdown on violations which are taking place.
In its key meeting, the session decided on policies and standard operating procedures (SOPs) regarding the acceleration in infection rates. It also reviewed decisions regarding educational institutions across the country. The NCOC decided to impose “high-impact interventions” in cities that have a positivity rate greater than 8pc for more than three days.
