Covid curbs to ease post June 15 as positivity rate drops to 2.5%.

ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC) decided on Wednesday to slightly relax restrictions put in place to curb the spread of Covid-19 during the third wave of the virus in the country from June 15 onwards.

Taking a comprehensive review of the vaccination process and implementation of Covid SOPs (NPIs), the NCOC decided to relax the restriction on two-day a week closure of businesses to one day - the choice of day will be at the discretion of the federating units. Moreover, indoor gyms were allowed to be partially opened for vaccinated members only.

As per the NCOC's decision, conveyed following the meeting, only selective, non-contact sports will be permitted, while ban on contact sports -.Karate, Boxing, MMA, Rugby, Kabbadi, Wrestling and Waterpolo - as well as festivals and cultural and other events will remain in place. The NCOC will also be relaxing the 50% work-from-home policy, allowing office to ensure 100% attendance. Moreover, the two-day weekly ban on inter-provincial transport will also be lifted, whereas restrictions regarding 50% occupancy for public transport will be relaxed to 70% occupancy.

However, ban on closure of shrines will remain imposed, and cinemas will also remain closed. Current restrictions already announced by the NCOC regarding recreation, education sector, wearing of masks, railways and inbound passengers policy will remain in place till further orders.

The NCOC announced that coronavirus vaccines will be mandatory for all public and private sector employees, adding that government employees must be fully vaccinated by June 30.

Besides, the meeting also decided to introduce certain incentives for various sectors to encourage vaccinations. All vaccination centres will remain open from 8am to 10pm daily from June 11 (except Sundays). From...