High alert at airport

The provincial health department has taken strict security measures to screen the passengers arriving at Karachi's Jinnah International Airport and crew of ships docking at the Karachi Port and Port Qasim.

Conventional screening through rapid test system will be performed to diagnose the new variant of the novel coronavirus, Omicron, which has sent a panic wave across the world with major airports deploying safety measures to prevent the contagion from entering their country.

Sindh Health Department has instructed the staff at the airport to test all C-category passengers with utmost care and safety.

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The efficacy of rapid test is recognised at 17 per cent. That is why the health department has instructed the airport staff to ask the passengers who test negative in the rapid test for coronavirus to isolate themselves at home for three days while passengers who test positive will be sent to government hospitals for 10 days.

Health department officials said that the number of beds in four government hospitals in Karachi has also been increased. On the other hand, aviation experts said that screening of passengers coming from South Africa via Dubai or passengers boarding these flights at Dubai airport would be a difficult step as according to NCOC, Dubai is not included in C-category.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 30^th, 2021.