The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government has directed to close all outpatient departments at tertiary care hospitals and district headquarter hospitals across the province.

According to an official notification issued by the provincial health department, the closure of OPDs will begin on April 1 and go on till April 13. In addition, there will also be a ban of private clinics/hospitals so that they can "develop proper triage for patients/visitors".

"During this period, hospitals shall strengthen their emergency services for uninterrupted patient care/management," the notification reads.