The development comes hours after Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government was deliberating over additional measures

Shujaat Hamza

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Monday summoned a National Coordination Committee meeting tomorrow to discuss the growing trend of COVID-19 infections in the country.

The premier will be briefed by the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) on the coronavirus situation.

The development comes hours after Federal Minister for Planning and Development Asad Umar said the government was deliberating over additional measures to contain the rising spread of coronavirus in the population.

Taking to Twitter, Umar said the NCOC discussed additional measures today to control the rising spread of COVID-19.

“Recommendations will be tabled in the NCC being called for tomorrow,” he continued. “Need to take immediate measures which have the most impact on disease spread without curtailing economic activity.”

Pakistan’s positivity rate surged past 4% on Sunday – the highest since August. The country recorded 1,123 new Covid-19 cases in a single day – highest in over three months. At least 12 people succumbed to the virus.

The federal authorities have issued multiple warnings in the past few days on the ignorance towards implementation of Covid-19 SOPs as a second wave hits the country.

Last week, NCOC issued fresh rules regarding the closure of wedding halls and shopping malls and made the wearing of face masks mandatory.

“NCOC has tightened restrictions on some high-risk public activities but the rising spread of the disease can only be controlled if people believe in the need for precautions,” said Umar.