Pakistan Joins Global Rollout of Travel Restrictions on U.K. Travelers
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Stringent checks and bans applied in bid to curb spread of more infectious strain of novel coronavirus
Pakistan on Monday joined the global community in imposing temporary travel restrictions on passengers inbound from the United Kingdom after London reported a new coronavirus strain that is believed to be 70 percent more infectious than the original variant.
According to a notification issued by the Aviation Division, the decision to impose harsher “temporary” restrictions was taken during a meeting of the National Command and Operation Center, and would remain in force from midnight Dec. 22 till midnight Dec. 29. “This restriction will be applicable to all persons who originate travel from the U.K. and are in or have been in U.K. over the past 10 days,” it said.
Islamabad Airport Enforces Strict Measures for Passengers from the UK
The Islamabad International Airport administration has adopted strict measures to screen inbound passengers from the United Kingdom following the reports of a new coronavirus strain sweeping across southern England.
The discovery of the new strain, just weeks before the vaccines are about to roll in, has wreaked havoc in a pandemic that has already killed about 1.7 million people worldwide and more than 67,000 in the UK alone.
Taking measures against the new strain, what people are calling as ‘COVID-20,’ several countries, including France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Austria, Ireland, Belgium, and Canada have shut their borders. Pakistan was the latest country to join in on Monday, suspending all international inbound flights from the UK.
Pakistan Bans Flights to UK Amid Fears of New Coronavirus Strain
Pakistan has become the latest country to suspend travel to and from the UK over fears of transmission of a highly infectious mutated Coronavirus strain that was detected in southern parts of England last week.
It was decided during a meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) on Monday presided over by the SAPM on health, Dr. Faisal Sultan.
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According to a notification issued by the Aviation Division, Pakistan has imposed travel restrictions on both direct and indirect inbound travelers from the UK in view of the emergence of a new and more infectious variant of Coronavirus.
Pakistan joins global ban on UK travel over new virus variant - World dawn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from dawn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Coronavirus: Pakistan imposes temporary travel restrictions on inbound travelers from UK
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Transit passengers will be allowed to travel to Pakistan
NCOC to revisit the policy on Dec 28
Pakistan has imposed fresh temporary restrictions on in-bound passengers from the UK following the emergence of a new coronavirus strain.
A notification from the Aviation Division said that the curbs will remain in place from December 22-29, and will apply to persons who originate travel from the UK and are in, or have been in Britain over the past 10 days.
However, some passengers will be exempted from these restrictions:
Transit passengers who do not leave airside in the UK from destinations other than the UK will be allowed to travel to Pakistan.