Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar on Saturday has called for unity in response to the third wave of coronavirus, warning that the “danger is higher than ever”.
On Twitter, the federal minister said that the need for caution is clear. “Need the country to unite in response and achieve once again what we achieved in the first wave, for which we received global praise. Inshallah, we will do it again, together,” he said in a message on Twitter.
The need for caution is clear. The danger is higher than ever and knocking at our doors. Need the country to unite in response and achieve once again what we achieved in the first wave, for which we received global praise. Inshallah we will do it again, together
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) May 8, 2021
The federal minister, who is also chief of the country’s COVID-19 body, presented the example of a small country like Nepal which saw an exponential rise in cases going up above 7,000 daily.
“Deaths also rose sharply. You can see the entire region is exploding with cases and deaths, in the latest covid wave. We have alhamdulillah been spared the worst by timely decisions.” Umar noted.
Even a small country like nepal saw an exponential rise in cases going up above 7,000 daily. Deaths also rose sharply. You can see the entire region is exploding with cases & deaths, in the latest covid wave. We have alhamdulillah been spared the worst by timely decisions pic.twitter.com/bbm75MzcV1
— Asad Umar (@Asad_Umar) May 8, 2021
Pakistan reported 120 more deaths from coronavirus, taking the national death toll to 18,797 on Saturday.
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The daily data issued by the National Command and Operation Centre showed that Pakistan carried out 48,103 COVID-19 tests, out of which more than 4,000 returned positive.
No takeaways from restaurants after sunset
The Sindh Coronavirus Task Force decided on Thursday to ban takeaways from restaurants and allow only home deliveries after the sunset from Friday (tomorrow) to Sunday.
A meeting of the Task Force with Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah in the chair took stock of the Covid-19 situation and decided to further tighten restrictions to contain the third wave of the virus.
Following are the decisions taken during the meeting:
- No takeaways will be allowed after the sunset from Friday (tomorrow) to Sunday
- Only home deliveries will be allowed
- Grocery shops to shut at 6pm
- Karachi’s beaches including Hawksbay and Seaview will remain closed during Eid holidays
- Pharmacies have been excempted from business timing restrictions
- Vaccination centres will operate round the clock