ISLAMABAD: Planning minister Asad Umar said on Tuesday the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), Pakistan’s top body to oversee coronavirus mitigation efforts, had informed him that people were not following standard operating procedures in the last few days since the government allowed virtually all sectors of the country to resume business.
In March, Pakistan shut all its schools and land borders and decided to limit international flights and discourage large gatherings to try to halt the spread of the coronavirus.
But with coronavirus infections and deaths in Pakistan down nearly 80 percent since their peak the government opened the tourism sector over the weekend and restaurants from Monday. Schools and wedding halls will open on September 15.
Following coronavirus rules was “not so difficult,“” the minister said at a press conference.
“Wear a mask and maintain distance,” Umar said. “The most important thing is your attitude; if you take precautions, we will see [further] improvement.”
He warned that Pakistan’s gains in fighting the coronavirus could be reversed if people did not follow standard operating procedures.
“If we are not careful, the spread of the virus which has reduced because of [the people’s] efforts can increase again,” Umar said. “The improvement you see is because the government and people together took decisions and followed them,” he said, adding that he was “confident that people will not let this victory they have achieved turn into a loss.”
