Minister for Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives Asad Umar on Monday has urged the nation to remain cautious in order to curtail the spread of the coronavirus in the face of a rising positivity rate.

While addressing the prize distribution ceremony organised by the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) to honour teams that worked to tackle the coronavirus pandemic, he said "People should follow standard operating procedures (SOPs) for saving themselves from COVID-19 which is currently spreading fast in the country."

Asad said the people who are not vaccinated so far must get jabbed as soon as possible.

The NCOC chief said: "People who were fully vaccinated six months ago and are over 30 years of age should get a booster dose."

The minister lauded the efforts of all ground workers, vaccination teams, NCOC, health workers and federal as well as provincial agencies for coordinated efforts that helped to make the campaign successful. 

He said that the campaign against coronavirus would be remembered because the whole nation made collective efforts to stop its spread.

Earlier, during the ceremony, it was announced that 48 % of the eligible population stands fully vaccinated.