National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center for unified efforts against coronavirus, on Saturday has announced to impose a ban on processions of Youm-e-Ali amid rising cases of COVID-19 as the country struggles with the third wave.

The decision was taken in a meeting, chaired by Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special initiatives Asad Umar and attended by Minister for Interior Sheikh Rasheed, Minister for Religious Affairs Noor-ul-Haq Qadri, and SAPM on Health Dr Faisal Sultan.

According to the details, the center reviewed the situation of COVID-19 in the country and decided to place a ban on Youm-e-Ali processions, while majlis will be permitted under strict SOPs which are already in place for Ramadan.

“Keeping in view the risk factor due to the ongoing surge in COVID spread across the country and particularly in major urban centers, it was decided to ban all sort of processions while holding of Majalis has been permitted under strict COVID SOPs which are already in place for Ramazan ul Mubarik,” NCOC announced in a statement.

Current situation of COVID-19 in Pakistan:

Pakistan on Saturday has reported 4,696 new cases and 146 COVID-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours as the country struggles with the third wave of coronavirus.

According to statistics shared by National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), the country's nerve center for unified efforts against coronavirus, 48,740 coronavirus tests were taken countrywide, of which 4,696 came out positive.

There are currently 5,490 critical patients of COVID-19 admitted at different hospitals in the country. And the reported positivity rate is 9.63%.