National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), the apex body to formulate policies to counter coronavirus, did not formulate any policy in today’s meeting of all bigwigs regarding the closure of the schools, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

NCOC said that the final decision will be taken in the next 48 hours only looking at the data of positivity rates of various institutions.

The NCOC statement said that decisions about education institutions will be taken on data of positive cases of various institutions for which massive testing in educational institutions is being carried out.

NCOC will be briefed on inter-provincial transport also.

Federal Education Minister Shafqat Mahmood and provincial education ministers attended the meeting via video link.

Federal Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Asad Umar and National Coordinator Maj General Muhammad Zafar Iqbal chaired the NCOC session, while Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Health Dr Faisal Sultan attended it virtually.

NCOC also discussed global and regional trends of the Omicron variant and the deliberated on the new set of non-pharmaceutical interventions (NPIs) keeping in view the disease prevalence, following which, it was decided that the NPIs will be enforced by the provinces in the next 48 hours after consultative process with all stakeholders.

It is relevant to note that Punjab Education Minister Murad Raas said classes for children under the age of 12 years will be allowed with 50 per cent attendance.

Reporter Saba Bajair