ISLAMABAD - Federal Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar Sunday said the third wave of COVID-19 was too lethal and spreading fast in the country so “everyone should have to adopt standard operating procedures (SOPs) with complete manner” to combat the virus.

The minister while talking to a private news channel said that the ratio of spreading the new wave of coronavirus was too high. The minister said the government was not going to increase lockdown more and no need of imposing more restrictions in that regard.

He said the government was going to import more six ton oxygen and five 5,000 cylinder to meet demand of the hospitals for coronavirus patients.

Asad Umar said 140,000 people were vaccinated last day and the government wanted to increase the numbers for vaccination to 300,000 people per day. Replying to a question, he said there was no need to make anti-body test, adding after vaccination 75 percent prospects to effect from coronavirus was reduced. He said provincial leadership worked hard for implementation of SOPs against the deadly virus. To another query, he said National Command and Control Centre (NCOC) had issued notification regarding restrictions about gatherings on April, 13. He said almost100 million people would be vaccinated in Pakistan, adding it was duty of the government to protect the lives of the people.