Following a worldwide upsurge in instances of a novel COVID-19 variant known as “BF.7,” mainly in China and India, Border Health Services (BHS) on Thursday instructed officials at all airports to significantly boost coronavirus testing for all travelers coming to Pakistan
The advice also instructs the Airport Health Services to check every sick traveler at the airports using the Antigen Rapid Test.
The alert states that as part of efficient control and preventive efforts, all BHS-relevant individuals were instructed to keep a high degree of consciousness for better assessment, monitoring, and segregation of any possible cases to avoid subsequent spread.
The appropriate personal protective equipment (PPES) by the healthcare workers for interruption of transmission, as well as the disinfection and fumigation of passenger arrival areas, have been advised to all in-charges to strictly implement Infection Prevention Control (IPC) protocols at the points of entry.
As part of the national reaction to COVID-19 at the ports of entry, it has been recommended that a random sample of all arriving passengers on foreign flights (2%) be conducted.
The border health authority has also encouraged all airlines to help its employees conduct the tests efficiently because certain passengers frequently object to it.
