Indoor weddings to be allowed from March 15

By Our correspondent

ISLAMABAD: The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday decided to ease some of the coronavirus restrictions that it earlier put in place after carefully reviewing the existing non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs or alternate measures to treat Covid-19 other than medical treatment).

The NCOC added that the decisions could be reviewed again in view of the increased disease prevalence, whenever deemed necessary.

According to a statement issued in this regard, provinces can, however, enforce targeted NPIs where required, depending upon disease prevalence in a given area or sector.

Following are some of the decisions taken by the NCOC.

• Time-limit lifted from commercial activities and amusement parks;

• Condition of 50 percent work from home removed for office employees;

• Indoor wedding ceremonies will be allowed from March 15, 2021, with stringent COVID-19 standard operating procedures (SOPs) in place;

• Indoor dining allowed from March 15, subject to a review on March 10;

• Opening of cinemas and shrines allowed with strict COVID-19 SOPs with effect from March 15;

• Wearing of face masks, social distancing, smart lockdowns will continue and will be ensured;

• From a health perspective, the conduct of local bodies and cantonment board elections may be planned by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) by the end of May or early June 2021.

• Spectators' attendance in the Pakistan Super League (PSL) Pool matches to be increased to 50 percent from the current 20 percent. Whereas, full attendance will be allowed for play-offs with stringent COVID-19 SOPs in place

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has given green signal to pack to a capacity crowd for the Pakistan Super League (PSL) VI play offs and final to be played at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore besides allowing fifty percent presence during the on-going pool matches.

The PSL Eliminators will be held on March 18, 19, 20, and the final is set to be held on March 22-all at the Gaddafi Stadium Lahore. Now a full crowd with stringent COVID SOPs can enjoy live action at Gaddafi Stadium during playoff matches.

In all PSL pool matches that are underway at the National Stadium Karachi and later would move to Lahore from March 10, the crowd presence at the ground has been increased from 20 percent to 50 percent. Now fifty percent crowd that will be around 15000 for the National Stadium Karachi can enjoy the live-action.