ISLAMABAD: The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) on Monday issued instructions to the authorities concerned to ensure mass public awareness about the novel coronavirus variant that threatens the resurgence of the disease and ensure surveillance of travelers to avoid any risk of infection.
Chairman NDMA, Lieutenant General Inam Haider Malik presided over the review session held with the team of the National Institute of Health (NIH) and Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) on the COVID-19 situation and surveillance mechanisms at airports in the wake of the threat posed by the new BF.7 Omicron variant of the deadly virus, a news release said.
The NIH showed detailed statistics on COVID-19 Management and Vaccination Administration Data in Pakistan.
It was briefed that Rapid Antigen Tests (RATs) & Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) tests of inbound passengers have been conducted at all airports of the country as per policy in vogue.
NIH officials told the forum that vaccination and screening tests of pedestrians are being executed at the Torkham border on daily basis.
The CAA informed that an efficient system with a proper management team was fully functional at airports to remain vigilant and related logistic arrangements had been made to deal with any sub-variant of Covid-19.
Chairman NDMA expressed confidence in the country’s anti-covid strategies and national preparedness regime.
However, he instructed NIH to issue precautionary advisories for educational institutes, social gatherings, and communities and conduct weekly media briefings to sensitize the public and stakeholders.
He emphasized continuous monitoring of the global spread and behavior of sub-variant, and measures undertaken by other countries accordingly to counter the strain.
Meanwhile, Health officials on Monday said that 12 new Coronavirus cases were reported during the last 24 hours across the country.
As per data shared by the National Institute of Health (NIH), the case positivity ratio is 0.39 percent while 11 patients were in critical condition.
No death was reported from the Coronavirus in the last 24 hours while 3,062 Covid-19 tests were conducted.
Around 195 tests were conducted in Islamabad with four confirmed cases at ratio of 2.05% while 771 cases reported in Lahore with six confirmed cases at ratio of 0.78%. –Agencies
