ISLAMABAD: Pakistan will wind up the operations of its pandemic response body this month, a top health official said on Saturday, as the COVID-19 emergency is considered over in the South Asian nation.
The National Command Operation Centre (NCOC) was formed to coordinate and lead Pakistan's efforts in battling the outbreak, as it witnessed a surge in infections in April 2020, after reporting its first case in February that year.
Headed by Planning Minister Asad Umar, the NCOC includes representatives of the federal, provincial and regional governments, as well as experts from the civil sector and the military.
Dr. Rana Muhammad Safdar, director general of the National Health Services, told Arab News on Saturday the NCOC would be closed "towards end March."
"It was to coordinate COVID emergency, that's over now," he said.
The number of new COVID-19 infections has been steadily decreasing in Pakistan since the end of January, with about 700 new cases reported on average each day — about 10% of the highest daily average recorded on Jan. 29.
There have been 1.52 million infections and 30,304 coronavirus-related deaths reported in the country of 220 million since the pandemic began.
It has so far fully vaccinated against the virus 45% of its population.
