Pakistan To Check 2% Of Incoming Travelers For New COVID-19 Variant

As of this week, the government, as per an official announcement on Wednesday, has approved the testing of two percent of incoming passengers to safeguard against the potential spread of a new coronavirus variant, JN-1.

Throughout the course of the COVID-19 pandemic, Pakistan faced various challenges and phases. Initially, the virus spread rapidly across the country, straining the healthcare system and prompting the implementation of stringent lockdowns. Despite limited resources, Pakistan successfully employed effective strategies such as public awareness campaigns, widespread testing, and targeted lockdowns.

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The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), the country’s pandemic response organization, highlighted in a notice from its latest meeting on January 2 that it is actively monitoring the situation in countries experiencing a surge in viral infection cases.

“In this regard, the NCOC decided to implement 2% screening of all travelers passing through all Points of Entry (PoEs), maintain strict vigilance at all PoEs, and guarantee staff visibility at all times at respective areas for all international travelers,” the statement elaborated.

The notification specifically addressed Pakistan International Airlines, Border Health Services Pakistan, and senior officials from the Civil Aviation Authority.