ISLAMABAD: The National Command Operations Center (NCOC) today approved closure of schools and tight SOPs measures in cities with a high Covid rate. In a statement issued today, NCOC has provided following guidelines for combat the fifth wave of the ongoing pandemic in the country.
For cities/districts with positivity above 10%:
Gatherings/Weddings:
- Indoor gatherings of all types, including weddings, will be banned from January 24.
- Outdoor gatherings, including weddings, will be allowed with a cap of fully vaccinated 300 guests — applicable from Jan 24.
Dinning
- There will be a complete ban on indoor dining. However, outdoor dining for fully vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed.
Gyms
- Indoor Gyms at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals will be allowed.
Cinemas
- Cinemas will be allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.
Shrines
- Shrines are allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated individuals only.
Amusement Parks
- Allowed to open at 50% capacity for fully vaccinated people only.
Sports
- There would be a complete ban on contact sports like karate, boxing, martial arts, water polo, kabaddi and wrestling.
Education sector
- Schools will be allowed to open with 50% attendance (staggered days) for students below the age of 12 years. For students (fully vaccinated) over 12 years, the NCOC has recommended 100% attendance.
Cities with less than 10%
Gatherings/weddings
- Indoor gatherings are allowed with a maximum limit of 300 guests (fully vaccinated), while outdoor events can be held with a maximum limit of 500 guests.
Dining
- Indoor and outdoor dining is permitted for fully vaccinated individuals only, while takeaways are allowed 24/7.
Gyms
- Indoor gyms are open for fully vaccinated individuals only.
Shrines
- Open for fully vaccinated individuals only.
Parks
- Open for fully vaccinated individuals only.
Sports
- All types of sports are allowed for vaccinated individuals.
Education
- Children will continue to attend schools with strict SOPs, while those above 12-years of age must have to be fully vaccinated.
Restrictions imposed across Pakistan
Business timings
- Businesses will continue without time restrictions
Public transport
- Public buses will be allowed to operate with 70% of their seating capacity. Wearing masks will be mandatory throughout the journey, with a complete ban on serving meals/snacks. Restrictions will come into force from January 20.
Railways
- Railways will operate with 80% occupancy level from January 24.
Office Routine
- Offices will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity with normal working hours. However, work from home is encouraged.
Domestic Air travel /meals
- There will be a complete ban on meal/beverages serving during the in-flight journey for domestic travel.
Education sector
- With effect from February 2022 vaccination for students above 12 years will be mandatory (at least one dose). No exemption other than medical reasons will be entertained.
- Aggressive sentinel testing in educational institutions will be carried out for targeted closures in high disease prevalence education institutes.
- Federating units in consultations with health authorities will set a number/percentage for closure of education institutes.
Mask wearing
- Compliance to compulsory mask wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement. Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by all federating units.
Extended lockdowns
- Targeted lockdown with stringent enforcement protocols based on risk assessment will continue.
