Dec 6, 2021: As the threat of new corona virus variant Omircron looms, Pakistan has decided to restrict inbound travel from nine more countries.
The National Command and Operations Center (NCOC) has added eight more names to the Category C list of countries from where there will be a ban on passengers entering Pakistan due to the threat of Omicorn.
The new Category C list includes Croatia, Hungary, the Netherlands, Ukraine, Ireland, Slovenia, Vietnam, Poland, South Africa, Mozambique, Lesotho, Iswatini, Botswana, Zimbabwe and Namibia.
The NCOC made the decision after reviewing the global Covid-19 situation. Last month, the NCOC had already banned inbound travel from South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Eswatini, Botswana, and Hong Kong.
Passengers from C-category countries will be allowed in Pakistan only in case of extreme emergency which includes various testing protocols including vaccination certificates, negative PCR reports before boarding and Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) on arrival at the airport.
Travellers must undergo a three-day quarantine followed by a PCR test. If a person has tested positive for CoVID-19, he or she must undergo a 10-day quarantine. However, for the convenience of stranded Pakistanis, the NCOC has allowed some travel relaxation. All Pakistanis can travel from Category C countries without exception till December 15. However, health and testing protocols will apply to them.
Pakistanis already travelled/ travelling to Category C countries on short term visa and deportees are permitted to travel back without an exemption process.
Pakistanis unable to get themselves vaccinated abroad (all categories) due to expired visa / Emirates ID or illegal immigrants/ deportees, pending court cases, medical conditions, pregnancy or partial vaccination from Pakistan are exempted from mandatory vaccination if they show valid proof to airline/ immigration authorities before boarding.
The new Category B list includes Germany, Trinidad and Tobago, Azerbaijan, Mexico, Sri Lanka, Russia, USA, UK, Thailand, France, Austria, Afghanistan, Turkey.
Pakistan reported 336 positive cases and 10 more deaths during the last 24 hours. The country conducted 42,944 tests, while the positivity ratio was recorded at 0.78%.
Moreover, 862 patients are in critical care while 858 coronavirus recoveries were also reported during the last 24 hours.
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