Friday, March 29, 2024

Omicron variant BA.2.12: Passengers will be screened at airports

Following the discovery of Omicron Variant BA.2.12, the authorities in charge of airport security have made the decision to implement additional screening procedures for travelers coming from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf nations.

At the airports in Islamabad, Lahore, and Karachi, the screening of passengers will begin at midnight on the hour of the start of the new day.

According to the officials at the airport, during the first phase of implementation, 10 to 15 passengers on board smaller planes will be subjected to the Omicron variant’s screening.

During the subsequent phase, fifteen to twenty passengers will be subjected to RAT tests as part of the screening process for Omicron Variant BA.2.12.

Until the next set of guidelines is issued by the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the special screening arrangements that have been put in place for travelers will remain in effect.

According to a statement released by the National Institute of Health (NIH) on May 9, Pakistan was the country that had reported the first case of Omicron sub-variant BA.2.12.1.

Read Also: PM Shehbaz Sharif restores NCOC after Covid-19 sub-variant emerges

“The NIH has identified the first patient infected with Omicron subvariant BA.2.12.1. This new sub-variant is responsible for an increasing number of cases across a variety of countries,” the health body said in a Tweet.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) recommended that people get vaccinated against the virus because this is the most effective action they can take to avoid becoming infected with it.

“We strongly suggested getting vaccinated, and all those due for boosters must get the vaccinations as soon as possible,” it continued. “We strongly recommend getting vaccinated.”

Latest news