Restriction on public gatherings: Govt issues fresh Covid-19 directives

Taking the sharp rise in Covid-19 cases into consideration, the government has issued fresh directives including restriction on social gatherings and closure of educational institutions.

A gazette notification containing the directives and signed by Ahmad Kaikaus, prime minister's principle secretary, was issued in this regard today.

The directives are:

1. All kinds of public meetings, including social, political, religious and others, have to be limited in all places. In areas with higher transmission of coronavirus, no gatherings will be allowed.

2. Compliance with health guidelines has to be ensured in mosques and other places of worship.

3. Gatherings have to be limited in tourist attractions and entertainment venues, cinema and theatre halls. Arrangement of all kinds of fairs and exhibitions has to be discouraged.

4. Public transports cannot carry passengers over 50 percent of their capacity and have to follow Covid-19 guidelines while doing so.

5. Inter-district transports have to be limited to areas with higher infections, have to be suspended entirely if necessary.

6. Incoming passengers from abroad have to remain in quarantine for 14 days in hotels at their own expenses.

7. Purchase and sale of daily necessities have to take place in open spaces, maintaining hygiene rules. Covid-19 guidelines have to be maintained at the dispensaries.

8. Covid-19 guidelines must be followed in healthcare related institutions.

9. All educational institutions including primary, secondary, higher secondary, universities, madrasas and coaching centres will remain closed.

10. Both sellers and buyers at shopping malls have to ensure health guidelines are being followed while shopping.

11. Going out after 10pm without any emergency will be controlled; optional gatherings must be prohibited.

12. Legal action will be taken if mask is not worn and other hygiene rules are violated when outside.

13. Patients with Covid-19 symptoms have to stay in isolation. Persons in close contact with patients will have to be quarantined as well.

14. All government and private offices, establishments and factories should be managed by 50 percent of the manpower except emergency service providers. Pregnant and ill officials or those aged above 55 should stay at home and take measures to work from there.

15. Meetings, seminars, trainings and workshops must be arranged online.

16. Proper hygiene must be ensured in any type of public examination that has to be attended in person.

17. Hotels and restaurants can serve only up to 50 percent of the customers they can accommodate.

18. It is compulsory to wear masks properly and ensure other hygiene measures at workplaces.

The directives will be effective countrywide immediately and remain in force for two weeks until further instructions, the gazette notification reads.