Covid variant threat: Pakistan revives health surveillance system at entry points

Pakistan has intensified monitoring of inbound passengers after the latest spread of the Covid variant in different countries and activated the health surveillance system at the country’s entry points including airports and ports.

Federal Minister for Health Abdul Qadir Patel said that the government has strengthened the role of Border and Health Services in Pakistan to deal with any sub-variant of Covid-19, according to APP news agency.

Addressing a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC), which was held here at the National Institute of Health (NIH) to discuss the COVID-19 situation, the minister said that there was a surveillance system at all entry points of the country including airports.

He said that the situation was completely under control and asked the general public to avoid listening to rumors. He added that the Corona case passivity ratio was just 0.3 to 0.5 in the country while 90 percent of the country’s population already got the COVID-19 vaccine.

He said that there will be rapid tests and screening of passengers at all airports.

He said that an efficient system with a proper management team was fully functional in the country to remain vigilant and was ready to make an emergency plan to deal with any sub-variant of Covid-19.

He said that Border and Health Services Pakistan was ensuring the implementation of international health regulations.

He added further steps were being taken to strengthen the role of Border and Health Services Pakistan.

He said that in case of any untoward situation the health system was fully prepared to deal with any sub-variant of the Omicron variant of COVID-19 including BF.7 in the country.