ISLAMABAD: The government of Pakistan has made it mandatory for people to wear face masks in public places, announced SAPM on health on Saturday.
Briefing the media in Islamabad, Dr. Zafar Mirza said: “As the government of Pakistan, we are making the use of masks mandatory. It is no more an option…not your wish…you should use it.”
Local transmissions of the coronavirus are now at 92%, said Dr Mirza, adding that at least 78 people, including four healthcare professionals have died in Pakistan in the last 24 hours.
He further added that “Wherever you think social distancing is not appropriate or the place is crowded, then it is mandatory to wear a mask there,”
“We are talking about a surgical mask. It could be a cloth mask,” he clarified.
“We have several SOPs for different places but I want to give you a list of six or seven [places] where it is mandatory to wear masks…in mosques, bazars, shops, shopping malls, public transport, including plane, trains, buses or wagons.”
He said that the virus has so far claimed 1,395 lives in Pakistan and “unfortunately”, the cases and number of deaths will rise in the coming days.
