The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center for unified efforts against coronavirus, has issued new directives for interprovincial road travels amid the worsening coronavirus situations.

According to these new directives, there will a ban on traveling by road between provinces over the weekends.

"It has been decided to ban interprovincial transport for two days a week (Saturday and Sunday) with effect from April 10, at 12 am, to April 25, 12:59 am," the center said in a statement.

The ban will only be applicable to private and public transport on the weekend. Vehicles carrying goods, freight, medical, and other emergency services will be exempted. Pakistan Railway will continue to operate 7 days a week with 70% occupancy.

The NCOC will review the ban on April 20 and decide further.

Worsening coronavirus situation in Pakistan:

According to the latest statistics shared by NCOC, the positivity ratio reported in the last 24 hours is 9.02%. 55,605 coronavirus tests were taken, 5,020 new confirmed cases were registered, and 81 deaths were reported countrywide in one day.

Minister for Planning and Development and NCOC chief Asad Umar revealed that Pakistan on Sunday has reported the highest number of critical patients due to novel coronavirus since the pandemic began last year. In a tweet, the federal minister said:

"Yesterday there were 3568 covid patients on critical care in Pakistan yesterday. This is the highest number since covid started. The need for strong enforcement of SOP's is vital. Please take precautions and cooperate with the administration in their enforcement efforts."