The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has issued a fresh travel advisoryinbound passengers amid the surge in coronavirus cases.

These Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) will take effect from May 5 andwill continue to remain effective until further orders.

The new travel advisory requires inbound passengers to undergo RapidAntigen Testing on arrival at Airports in Pakistan. People that testnegative will undergo a ten-day self-quarantine at home under thesupervision of health officials with stringent Trace, Test & Quarantine(TTQ) protocols.

Positive cases (if any) will be shifted to a self-paid facility for tendays quarantine with TTQ of contacts. Their second PCR test will beconducted on the 8th day of the quarantine period. They will be allowed togo home if they test negative.

However, in case of a second positive, the health official will decidewhether to extend the quarantine period or shift the passenger to ahospital.

The aviation authority has removed Category A and B from its travelrestrictions. From now on, every passenger will have to produce a negativePCR test at the time of boarding.

If any passenger travels without a negative PCR test, the airline will beheld responsible and liable to financial and administrative penalties asper Civil Aviation Rules.

There will be a complete ban on travelers coming from Category C countries.The list includes 23 countries, including Brazil, India, Kenya, Zimbabwe,South Africa, Peru, and others.

Those intending to travel to Pakistan from these countries will requireprior permission from the National Command and Operations Centre (NCOC).