ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) has directed the federal and the provincial governments to keep the educational institutions closed till June 6 in COVID-19 hotspot areas.
In a letter sent to the provincial governments on Saturday the NCOC said educational institutions in the districts where the coronavirus positivity ratio is high, should not reopen on May 24 as was previously decided.
They must instead remain closed till June 6. “The districts where the infection rate is less — below 5% — can reopen educational institutions (on May 24),” NCOC added.
The NCOC has set a cap of 5% positivity ratio for reopening of schools; if a district has an infection rate higher than the limit, educational institutes there are barred from reopening. A decision on whether or not educational institutes can reopen on June 7 will be taken on June 3, the letter added.
Pakistan reported over 4,000 cases and 88 from COVID-19 on Saturday, as the government expands the vaccination programme to protect against the virus.
According to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), Pakistan reported another 4,007 cases and 88 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. The national tally of coronavirus cases has reached 897,468 while the death toll stands at 20,177.
The number of active cases has reached 62,238 while there are 4,412 people remain in critical condition. There were 62,238 tests conducted in the past day, while the positivity ratio was 6.43%. Overall 813,855 people have recovered from the virus, including 3,712 in the past day.
Punjab remains the most affected region although Sindh has witnessed a sharp rise in cases since the past few days. Punjab has recorded 333,057 cases and 9,738 deaths, while the number of active cases in the province stands has reduced to 25,522.
Earlier, the National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) had allowed conducting professional examinations, said Federal Minister for Education Shafqat Mehmood.
“NCOC has allowed holding of professional exams/tests etc. Please apply to Secretary, Federal Ministry of Education and Islamabad with details of exam centres, number of students and SOPs to be followed,” the education minister wrote on Twitter.
He further said that if all arrangements are satisfactory permission will be given promptly. A day earlier, NCOC allowed the reopening of schools in districts where the COVID-19 positivity ratio is less than 5 per cent, while schools in other districts will reopen from June 7.
The decision was taken after NCOC chief Asad Umar presided over a meeting, with Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan, provincial chief secretaries and other members in attendance via video link.
A detailed review of the disease’s prevalence in the country was taken during the meeting. The NCOC decided all SSC and HSSC exams will be held after June 20, while professional and non-professional exams would take place on a case-to-case basis depending on recommendations from the Ministry of Education.
