KARACHI/ISLAMABAD: The aviation regulator has made masks mandatory on domestic flights given a gradual rise in the number of Covid-19 cases, it said in a statement.

The order comes a day after Karachi reported that its positivity ratio rose to 21% compared with a national rate of 2.8%.

“With immediate effect, mask wearing will be mandatory onboard domestic flights,” the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) said in the statement late on Sunday.

In recent months, the country reported very few Covid-19 cases and had done away with almost all precautions.

More than half of the total Covid-19 cases were reported from Karachi as 234 new infections surfaced in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate was 22.65% in the city.

At least 382 fresh infections were reported in the past 24 hours, according to the National Institute of Health (NIH) data. Two people died of Covid-19.

As Covid-19 cases climb in major cities, the National Command and Operation Centre has also suggested wearing masks for domestic passengers travelling by air, train and public transport.**

A month ago, the positivity ratio was 0.54% with 79 positive cases and no deaths. According to the NIH, 85% of eligible Pakistanis have been fully vaccinated against the virus.