Pakistan makes COVID-19 test must for international passengers

ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has made it necessary for international passengers coming to the nation to supply a duplicate of their take a look at outcomes for COVID-19 — as a part of its measures to include the unfold of the novel coronavirus.

The situation will come into impact from March 21, based on assertion issued by the authority on March 17.

The take a look at carried out utilizing the reverse transcription polymerase chain response (RT-PCR) technique should be performed 24 hours previous to boarding the flight.

“The take a look at end result should embrace the identify and passport variety of the passenger and authentic take a look at end result shall be required on the disembarkation airport in Pakistan,” the assertion learn.

“It shall be the accountability of the airline operators to make sure that no passengers are allowed to board an plane with out the stated take a look at end result,” it added.

“The requirement shall be along with the present requirement of the submission of a accomplished well being declaration kind on the level of disembarkation in Pakistan.”

The CAA additionally directed all airways to make sure disinfection of their plane between every disembarkation and embarkation of passengers as per internationally recognised procedures.

The assertion additional added that worldwide flights would resume in any respect airports of the nation anticipate these in Gwadar and Turbat from March 21 after being outfitted with the required infrastructure and assets to make sure correct screening of worldwide passengers.
They embrace the airports in Quetta, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar.

Earlier, the CAA had suspended worldwide flights at 5 airports after the National Security Committee (NSC) restricted as a part of the sweeping measures to include the unfold of coronavirus within the nation.

The CAA notified on Saturday that worldwide flights being operated from Quetta, Sialkot, Multan, Faisalabad and Peshawar had been relocated to the airports in Karachi, Islamabad and Lahore.

The federal government on Friday went all out to forestall a coronavirus outbreak within the nation, closing faculties and cinemas; sealing Iran and Afghan borders; limiting worldwide flights; discouraging massive gatherings and cancelling the joint navy parade on March 23.

Based on the PIA’s finance division, the losses of nationwide flag provider might soar to as a lot as Rs6.three billion a month if the state of affairs deteriorates within the wake of quick spreading coronavirus and the airline decides to cease worldwide flights utterly.

At current, PIA has suspended flights to China, Japan, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman and Italy with a halt to flights to Saudi Arabia coming into impact from March 18.