ISLAMABAD: Pakistani planning minister Asad Umar, who also heads the National Command and Control Center (NCOC) that oversees coronavirus mitigation efforts nationwide, said on Friday he had tested positive for COVID-19.
Pakistan recorded 3,179 new coronavirus cases countrywide over the last 24 hours as a second wave of the epidemic gathered momentum, data released on Saturday showed. The number of deaths in the last 24 hours stood at 87 bringing the total fatality figure to 9,250.
“Just got my covid test result and it is positive,” Umar said in a Twitter post. “Will be isolating at home.”
Just got my covid test result and it is positive. Will be isolating at home.
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) December 18, 2020
After a peak of over 6,800 daily infections in June, the number fell to a low of 213 in August, and remained below 700 for most of the last three months. But last month, the government announced that a second wave of the coronavirus had arrived, putting in place new guidelines, including mandatory face masks in public places and banning indoor dining at restaurants. Schools across the country have also been shut down, or switched to online classes, until mid-January.
Smart lockdowns were imposed in Karachi’s District Central and some neighborhoods in Peshawar this week following a surge in coronavirus cases.
Earlier this month, the government of Prime Minister Imran Khan ruled out a complete lockdown and decided to continue the smart lockdown policy with strict implementation of safety guidelines given by the NCOC.
The country’s last comprehensive lockdown was lifted in May.
