ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) on Saturday announced that the coronavirus protocol for mosques has been revised and now only fully vaccinated people will be allowed into places of worship.
The NCOC revised the mosque’s protocol, a day after Pakistan recorded its highest number of daily infections at 7,678 since the pandemic began in 2020.
The body leading Pakistan’s COVID-19 response also announced on Friday that all schools with high COVID-19 positivity ratios will remain closed for a week across the country.
Meanwhile, apart from allowing only vaccinated persons, the NCOC has also announced the following restrictions for mosques:
– Removal of carpets etc.;
– Maintaining social distancing of six feet;
– Elderly and co-morbid should offer Namaz preferably at home;
– frequent hand washing;
– Minimum attendance for prayer;
– take a bath preferably at home;
– opening doors/windows for ventilation;
– Preferably organize prayer in the open;
– Short sermons for Jumma prayer.
covid-19 case
According to official figures, more than 1,000 patients infected with the coronavirus are being treated in critical care across Pakistan, as the COVID situation worsens due to the Omicron variant.
NCOC data shows that after the condition of 94 deteriorated in the last 24 hours, patients in critical care have increased from 961 a day earlier to 1,055.
The positivity ratio stood at 11.10%, up from 12.93% a day earlier, as 6,540 infections were recorded across the country after 58,902 tests were conducted in the last 24 hours, NCOC data showed.
According to the NCOC data, after the new infections, the total cases have reached 1.36 million, while the death toll has risen to 29,077 with 12 more deaths.