Sindh govt recommends testing all travelers coming from China

KARACHI, Dec 29 (SABAH): The Sindh government on Thursday recommended to the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) and National Institute of Health (NIH) to test travellers coming from China for Covid-19 at airports across the country. According to media reports, China was experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases due to a strain that is a sub-variant of the highly infectious Omicron variant: BF.7 or BA.5.2.1.7.

Sindh Health Department pointed out that Covid cases and mortalities were resurging in global proximities, while a new variant had also emerged. In this view, it presented some recommendations and requested the NCOC to issue an advisory for people.

“All the inbound passengers on flights from China be tested for Covid-19 at airports. In case of positive results, the person shall be quarantined until they become negative for contagion,” the provincial government suggested, adding that serology tests of confirmed positive cases should be carried out.

“A huge number of false negative cases of new Covid-19 variant are also being reported so any person showing symptoms similar to the virus should be isolated and tested on PCR for confirmation.” The health department advised mandatory administration of Pfizer booster doses for people who got inoculated six months ago, especially those above the age of 65.

“Establishment of isolation centres for positive cases and those with symptoms but showing negative tests. They must undergo chest x-rays as a part of pneumonia investigation,” it added. Other recommendations also included declaring Covid vaccination mandatory for both national and international travel, wearing masks in public, and avoiding mass gatherings. The case positivity ratio was 0.33pc, while 19 patients were in critical condition. No death was reported from Covid-19 in the last 24 hours while 3,583 tests were conducted.

Separately, Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel has said that the Covid situation in Pakistan was under complete control and requested the nation to stay away from rumours. He said that the Covid positivity rate in the country was around 0.3pc to 0.5pc and over 90pc of the population was vaccinated.