ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), which leads coronavirus mitigation efforts, on Saturday asked citizens to report violations of health precautions as a second wave of the infection is sweeping across the country.
The NCOC’s request and a special phone number to submit reports come days after tighter restrictions were introduced across the country to curb the infection spread.
"With arrival of the 2nd wave & continued widescale violation of sop's, NCOC has decided to seek citizens help for sop compliance," Planning Minister Asad Umar, who leads the NCOC, said in a tweet.
On Wednesday, wearing masks in public places became mandatory and NCOC directed provincial governments to ensure that the rule be implemented, particularly in bazaars, shopping malls, public transportation and restaurants. All business centers, wedding halls, eateries and shopping centers need to shut by 10 p.m. from Thursday.
On Tuesday, the prime minister's special assistant on health, Dr. Faisal Sultan, formally announced the second wave of the coronavirus in the country.
According to government data, 332,993 people have tested positive for COVID-19 in Pakistan so far, with 807 in the past 24 hours. There have been 6,806 coronavirus-related deaths.
