Pakistan has imposed travel bans on seven countries in view of the spread of a new type of corona virus, Omecron.
According to a notification issued by the National Command and Operations Center (NCOC), which monitors Corona's situation in the country, the countries with which travel bans have been imposed include Hong Kong, South Africa, Mozambique, Namibia, Lesotho, Iswatini and Includes Botswana.
The new strain of corona virus (B.1.1.529) has been dubbed Omecron and its first cases were discovered in South Africa. According to the World Health Organization, this new strain is extremely 'worrying' and according to preliminary evidence, the risk of infection in this new strain is higher than other strains.
The NCOC said that Pakistani passengers coming from these countries would be allowed to travel under the protocol in case of emergency. Passengers will need a vaccination certificate, a negative PCR and a rapid test report.
Passengers with a negative report will have to undergo a mandatory three-day quarantine. Pakistanis stranded in these countries will be exempted from travel restrictions till December 5.
Under the notification, health protocol will be mandatory for passengers exempted from travel restrictions.
The NCOC warns citizens to ensure the implementation of SOPs once again with the advent of the new type of code, Omicron, which requires vaccinations, masks and social distance.
Asad Omar, chairman of the NCOC, says the spread of omekron has made it even more important for people 12 years of age or older to be vaccinated early.
'South Africa punished for discovery of Omicron'
South Africa, meanwhile, has complained that it is being punished instead of being rewarded for discovering a new type of code 19, Omicron.
Only 24% of the population in South Africa has been fully vaccinated so far
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Only 24% of the population in South Africa has been fully vaccinated so far
South Africa's foreign ministry said in a statement that the move comes at a time when many countries around the world have imposed travel bans on South African countries based on the spread of the new virus.
Numerous Omekron victims have been confirmed in Europe. Two cases have been confirmed in Britain, two in Germany, one in Belgium, one in Italy and one in the Czech Republic.
New strains of corona have also been found in Botswana, Hong Kong and Israel. Hundreds of passengers from South Africa to the Netherlands have been diagnosed with Omekron.
South Africa told the World Health Organization on November 24 that a new type of corona had been diagnosed in its country.
South Africa's foreign ministry said in a statement that "there should be a reward for strong science, not a punishment."
"These sanctions are tantamount to punishing South Africa for its advanced genomic sequencing and early detection of new species."
The statement added that if a new type of code had been discovered elsewhere in the world, the global response would have been very different.
An African Union official told the BBC that developed countries were to blame for the new type of code.
Many countries, including the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, have imposed travel bans on South Africa and surrounding countries. EU sanctions will take effect on Monday. India has also issued an alert to all states to make screening of passengers from South Africa mandatory.
James Nassmith, a professor of health in the UK, warns that it is possible that existing vaccines may not be as effective against this new strain of the virus. "This is bad news, but the Hour has not yet come."