ISLAMABAD:The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has decided to increase stringent measures to ensure mandatory vaccination due to increasing number of Omicron variant of COVID-19.

The NCOC meeting chaired by Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar here on Monday reviewed evolving pandemic situation, the national vaccination campaign and the spread of the disease. Minister for Economic Affairs Omar Ayub Khan and Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan also attended the meeting. The forum said the fifth wave of Omicron variant of coronavirus was spreading rapidly in the country.

The forum urged the masses to use face masks to avoid contracting the new variant and ensure social distancing at the outdoors to minimize disease spread. The NCOC said that positivity rate in Karachi has risen from 2% to 6% with the highest number of positive instances in last three days. The forum advised people to get vaccinated to prevent spread of fifth wave of COVID-19. Pakistan has reported highest number of daily infections in over two months.