Today, the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) directed all provinces to ensure compliance of wearing face masks and other COVID-19 SOPs particularly in markets, shopping malls, public transport, and restaurants.

The NCOC headed by the federal minister for planning Asad Umar met in Islamabad today and pondered upon the current COVID-19 situation of Pakistan. Later, the minister notified the public via press briefing regarding the spike in new coronavirus cases in the country and the new government's restrictions.

NCOC has once again made wearing face mask mandatory both in government and private offices. According to NCOC, currently, four thousand three hundred and seventy-four (4,374) smart lockdowns have been imposed across the country. 

The surge in the positivity ratio in the country has been concerning for Prime Minister Imran Khan and his administration. The forum was briefed that the positivity ratio of coronavirus cases has increased in eleven major cities of the country, especially Muzaffarabad, Hyderabad, Karachi, and Gilgit have a higher positivity ratio among other regions across the country.

This was also mentioned by Special Assistant to the PM on Health Dr. Faisal Sultan yesterday in a media briefing, he said:

The positivity ratio has jumped to 2.5 to 2.75%. The [Covid-related] death rate has also increased.

SAPM Sultan had hinted regarding the possibility of lockdown restrictions in the coming days. He said that the non-serious and careless attitude of the public has caused the infections to rise, which can not be allowed.

Around 400 to 500 daily new cases were being reported in the country a few weeks ago. This has gone up to 700 to 750 cases per day now. Several plans and recommendations are already being considered to stem the spread of the virus, he added.