Take precautions, protect the elderly, requests Mirza as Covid-19 tally tops 178,000.

ISLAMABAD -- Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Health Dr Zafar Mirza on Sunday reiterated the importance of taking precautionary measures - such as wearing masks, washing hands and practising social distancing - to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country.

He was addressing a press conference in Islamabad as the countrywide Covid-19 tally crossed 178,000 cases.

"We have to fight against this disease on an individual level, family level and community level," he said, listing down things that everyone should do to slow down the spread of Covid-19 while protecting the elderly.

Masks: Urging everyone to wear masks in public, Mirza reminded the nation that the government has made it mandatory to wear masks in public to prevent the spread of infections. "It doesn't have to be a surgical mask, the point is to cover the face to prevent infection," he said.

Social distancing: Mirza recommended keeping a physical distance of at least 2 metres, or 6 feet, from others while in public. "Shaking hands, hugging or any sort of physical contact is strictly not recommended," he said.

Washing hands: Reiterating the importance of washing hands during a pandemic, Mirza said that hands tend to cause infections because of how often they come in contact with the mouth. "Wash your hands for at...