Govt bans indoor weddings, full attendance in offices to control virus

The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has announced new measures as part of efforts to contain the coronavirus pandemic in the country. 

Under the new coronavirus prevention strategy, the government has banned indoor wedding ceremonies from November 20. However, people will be allowed to organise wedding ceremonies in open places. Up to 1,000 guests would be allowed to attend wedding ceremony. 

Also, the government has announced a work from home policy for public and private offices from November 7. All public and private offices have been allowed to call 50 percent of the staff to office and allow the remaining 50 percent staff to work from home. 

The government would impose smart lockdowns in the coronavirus hotspot areas. 

According to the NCOC, the new measures will remain effective from November 7 to January 31. The government has also decided to strictly enforce the coronavirus prevention measures, especially in the cities most affected by the pandemic. Initially, these coronavirus measures will be enforced in Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad. In the second phase, these measures will be enforced in Rawalpindi, Multan and Hyderabad. 

In the second phase, the Gilgit-Baltistan model will be followed to make sure that people wearing face masks when they go out of their houses. In line with this model, those not wearing face masks at public places would be awarded a fine of Rs100. Against this fine amount, the payee of the fine will get three masks. 

Later, the coronavirus prevention measures will also be enforced in cities like Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, Mirpur, Peshawar, Quetta, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Faisalabad, Bahawalpur and Abbottabad.