ISLAMABAD, Pakistan: The Prime Minister’s Special Assistant on National Health Services Dr. Zafar Mirza has said that wearing masks at crowded places has been declared mandatory to prevent the spread of Coronavirus (COVID-19).
While addressing a News Conference in Islamabad on Saturday, he said that in view of a growing number of Coronavirus Cases and subsequent deaths, the government has left no option but to declare wearing of masks a must at mosques, markets, shopping malls, public transport, and other crowded places.
Dr. Zafar Mirza appealed the masses to strictly follow precautionary protocols and other measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 pandemic.
The Special Assistant said that 78 people including four health workers died of Coronavirus in the last 24 hours, which is the biggest tally in a single day in Pakistan.
Dr. Zafar Mirza said that health workers are the frontline force in fight against COVID-19 and the government has taken a number of measures to protect health workers under ‘we care’ programme.
Moreover, he said that the recovery rate of COVID-19 patients in Pakistan is 36 percent while the locally transmission rate stands at 92 percent and despite the rise in Coronavirus Cases, only around 25 percent of the Country’s health system has been engaged so far.
Regarding some messages circulating on social media based on disinformation, he urged the opinion-makers to guide people on how to prevent the contagion instead of forwarding and promoting fake news on digital platforms.
The Special Assistant also urged families of COVID-19 patients to demonstrate patience while interacting with health workers at hospitals who are treating Coronavirus-affected people.
