Covid-19: NCOC eases curbs for passengers travelling to Pakistan

The National Command Control Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday announced that from tomorrow (February 24), requirement of negative PCR report for passengers travelling to Pakistan has been abolished for fully vaccinated travellers.

According to the new orders, pre-boarding negative PCR has been abolished for inbound travellers who are fully vaccinated. It also says that passengers below 12 years of age are exempted from mandatory vaccination. Passengers between 12-18 years of age are allowed to travel without mandatory vaccination till March 31, 2022.

The Sindh government on Tuesday revised Covid-19 restrictions. Ban on indoor dining and weddings have also been lifted.

Under the new relaxed rules, the following will apply:

Gatherings

• Indoor gatherings of all types, including weddings, with a cap of 500 fully-vaccinated guests will be allowed
• Outdoor gatherings allowed with strict enforcement of safety protocols

Dining

• Ban on indoor dining has been lifted. And, outdoor dining for fully-vaccinated citizens and takeaway service will be allowed

Business timings

• Businesses will continue without time restrictions

Office routine

• Offices will be allowed to operate at 100% capacity of fully vaccinated workers with normal working hours

Education sector

• Institutes for children under 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols.
• Institutes for children above 12 years of age will open with stringent Covid-19 protocols (fully vaccinated)

Public transport

• Public buses will be allowed to operate with 80% of their seating capacity. Wearing masks will be mandatory throughout the journey. However, a complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

Gyms

• All gyms will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

Shrines

• Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

Cinemas

• All cinemas will be allowed to remain open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

Amusement Parks

• Open for fully-vaccinated individuals only

Sports

• All types of sports are allowed for vaccinated individuals

Domestic air/land travel meals

• A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the in-flight or land journeys for domestic travel will remain imposed till February 28

Railways

• Railways will operate with a 100% occupancy level for vaccinated individuals only
• A complete ban on serving meals/snacks during the journey will remain imposed till February 28

Mask wearing

• Compliance with compulsory mask-wearing while incorporating innovative measures for enforcement
• Strict adherence to SOPs in mosques and other places of worship be ensured by the respective district administration

Extended lockdowns

• Smart lockdown with stringent enforcement protocols based on disease clusters.

Pakistan’s daily Covid-19 death toll witnessed an increase after several days.