PM urges nation to follow Covid SOPs.

ISLAMABAD -- As the country reported over 500 cases of Covid-19 after over 100 days, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday expreA!ssed concern over the surge while chairing a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and appealed to the nation to follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs).

The meeting was told that globally, the number of coronavirus cases was witnessing a downward trend, while the sub-variant of the Omicron variant had led to a recent surge in cases in the country.

During the meeting, the prime minister said people must not squander the success achieved against the virus. He directed the provincial chief secretaries, who joined the meeting via video link, to ensure implementation of the SOPs at crowded places, besides ensuring full vaccination, administration of booster shots and use of masks and sanitisers. He also called for use of masks and sanitisers at cattle markets set up ahead of Eidul Azha, weddings and other private gatherings.

Data showed that 541 Covid-19 cases were reported during the last 24 hours on Wednesday, and one person succumbed to the virus.

Experts fear the cases could further rise due to events before and after the upcoming Eidul Azha and Muharram. Seven cities reported over three per cent positivity rate with Karachi topping with 18.24pc; the remaining were Muzaffarabad, Quetta, Islamabad, Mardan, Peshawar and Lahore.

While Covid-19 cases continue to rise by the day, a cursory look at the public's activities reveals the SOPs seem to have virtually gone out of the window with just a negligible section seen wearing masks and avoiding touching surfaces in crowded places.

Speaking at a press conference after the meeting, Federal Minister for National Health Services Abdul Qadir Patel said it was...