COVID-19: Pakistan eases lockdown restrictions
Less than 100 deaths in 24 hours reported for 3rd consecutive day
Islamabad: Pakistan on Monday eased restrictions after the May 8-16 countrywide lockdown and allowed offices and businesses to resume directing them to follow all the coronavirus guidelines and necessary Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs).
However, despite allowing normal life back on track, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the country’s nerve centre monitoring the coronavirus situation has made it clear that ban on all types of tourism activities will continue till further notice.
All tourism sites including the northern areas of Pakistan will remain closed in the light of the NCOC decision.
Tourists and families were seen travelling towards Murree, Swat, Kalam, Hunza, Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and other tourist points in the country even during the lockdown in the Eid holidays, despite the fact the Pakistan government had made clear no tourism activity would be allowed during those days.
They were, however, not allowed to travel further and were returned by the authorities mid-way.
The NCOC, in a tweet, stated that the forum would issue necessary instructions in this regard very soon.
According to the NCOC, Pakistan during the last twenty-four hours reported 74 deaths and 3,232 new cases showing a meager 8.8 per cent positivity after 36,725 tests.
The health experts attribute this improvement in the situation to the strict enforcement of lockdown during the Eid holidays.
Monday turned out to be the third consecutive day as less than 100 deaths were reported in a period of twenty-four hours. Earlier, 48 deaths were recorded on Friday, 83 on Saturday and 76 on Sunday, the NCOC data reveals.
Active cases
According to the official data, still there are 68,223 active cases in the country while after 74 casualties and 3,223 new cases, the country’s total number of cases climbed to 880,362 and death toll 19,617.
After a lockdown of over a week, commercial activities are resuming in the country though both the business community and the public don’t fully seem to come out of the influence of lockdown.
Likewise, public transport on intercity and intracity routes has not completely revived and most of the vehicles, vans, buses and small pickups are still off the road as the government has directed them to resume operation with 50 per cent passengers.
Besides, all types of indoor and outdoor dining is prohibited whereas takeaways are allowed round the clock.