NCOC launches Covid testing for inbound passengers

ISLAMABAD: Mandatory Covid-19 testing for passengers arriving from abroad is being launched by the National Command and Operation Center (NCOC) to curb the potential spread of the JN1 variant in the country.

NCOC officials say that proactive measures are being adopted to counter the variant of Corona, and the initiation of Corona testing for incoming passengers aims to mitigate the global transmission of the JN1 variant.

As of now, no cases of the new variant, Covid JN1, have been reported within the country. However, the NCOC anticipates a potential surge in pressure on Outpatient Departments (OPDs) and hospital wards due to increased testing, as per the advisory.

Earlier, in response to the looming threat of a new variant of the Corona epidemic, the NCOC issued a letter to federal and provincial health departments, urging an increase in Corona testing.

Citing the emergence of new variants in neighboring countries, particularly in India, the NCOC has called for continuous monitoring of the situation by federal and provincial institutions.

The NCOC stresses the importance of outpatient and inpatient testing over the next few weeks to proactively curb the potential spread of this new variant.