In the wake of the second wave of the novel coronavirus in the country, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Wednesday made it compulsory for all citizens to wear a face mask in public places.

During the meeting chaired by Planning and Development Minister Asad Umar, it was also decided to make face masks mandatory in both government and private sector offices. Currently, 4,374 lockdowns have been imposed in Karachi, Quetta, Lahore, Rawalpindi, Multan, Peshawar, Islamabad, Hyderabad, Mirpur, Gilgit, Muzaffarabad, local media reported.

The NCOC has directed all provinces to ensure people follow the standard operating procedures (SOPs) and wear masks particularly in restaurants, shopping malls, and public transport.

The NCOC has also approved antigen tests in addition to PCR testing in line with the guidelines issued by WHO. "This is part of a strategy to increase the level of testing. The symptomatic cases will all still be administered PCR tests," Umar tweeted.

On Tuesday, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Imran Khan (SAPM) on Health Dr Faisal Sultan said that the second wave of the virus had started in the country. He said in the past few days, the country has been reporting 700 to 750 cases daily. He added that the death rate has also increased.