ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has declared mask-wearing mandatory on trains and in public transport as over 300 cases of Covid-19 were reported for the fourth consecutive day on Monday.

Weather of Karachi, Hyderabad and Islamabad suits the virus to spread and because of this the positivity ratio has been increasing in the three cities, according to experts.

Vice Chancellor of Health Services Academy Dr Shahzad Ali Khan stressed the need for holding marriage functions in open air and suggested managing closed places as virus rapidly spread there.

As the Civil Aviation Authority had declared wearing of masks in all domestic flights mandatory on Sunday, a statement issued by the National Institute of Health (NIH) said that after a slight change in Covid-19 cases in some cities, the NCOC has recommended mask-wearing in all domestic flights, railways and public transport within the country mandatory.

Over 300 Covid-19 cases reported for fourth consecutive day

The NIH statement requested the people to wear face masks during travel in public transport for prevention from Covid-19 transmission.

The NCOC data showed that as many as 382 cases of Covid-19 were reported over the last 24 hours and two people died. The national positivity rate was 2.85pc and 87 patients were in critical condition.

Talking to Dawn, Dr Shahzad Ali Khan said that there was no need to discontinue wearing masks.

“As per my understanding, there are fewer chances of infection in open spaces, but in closed spaces transmissibility of the virus increases. In planes, trains and public transports there are more chances of infection so mask-wearing should be mandatory,” he said.

In reply to a question why the positivity was increasing in Karachi, Hyderabad and Islamabad, he said that the weather of all three cities suits the virus as other cities of Punjab and interior of Sindh were having sizzling heat which affected the transmissibility of the virus.

Published in Dawn, June 28th, 2022