NCOC restricts nine more countries in wake of COVID-19

ISLAMABAD: The National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) evaluated the worldwide COVID-19 scenario recently in the midst of the new COVID-19 variation, Omicron, and decided to impose travel restrictions on nine more nations, principally from Europe.

Croatia, Hungary, Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland, and Zimbabwe had been added to the list of restricted sovereign states.

Inbound travel from these nations had been prohibited, according to the NCOC announcement. It outlined the health protocols that must be followed in the event of essential travel, including the requirement that all passengers, whether local or foreign, over the age of six years, should possess a negative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test report issued not more than 48 hours prior to boarding and undergo rapid antigen testing (RAT) upon arrival in Pakistan.

Travellers who test positive on arrival would be quarantined for ten days, with a PCR test on the eighth day, as per the NCOC. If they test negative, they would be permitted to leave quarantine. NCOC further stated that if the test is positive, they would spend extra time in isolation or be sent to a healthcare facility depending on the opinion of health officials.