THE challenge posed by Covid-19 assumes a new dimension with the spread of a new variant of the virus that seems to be uncontrollable. The new variant discovered in the United Kingdom (UK) spreads faster than others and that is why it has raised alarm bells around the world. The rapid spread of a new variant of coronavirus has been blamed for the introduction of strict tier four mixing rules for millions of people, harsher restrictions on mixing at Christmas in England, Scotland and Wales, and other countries placing the UK on a travel ban.
More and more countries are closing their borders and banning flights from the UK as part of the precautionary measures and Pakistan also joined such countries on Monday. A meeting of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) promptly placed a temporary restriction on inbound travellers from the UK (direct or indirect) to Pakistan and the restriction would remain in force till December 29 but understandably a review would take care of the latest situation. The speed with which the Government moved to ban travel from the UK is appreciable in the backdrop of widely-held belief that the Coronavirus was allowed to spread due to the careless attitude of the authorities in respect of travellers from Iran. As protocols are not strictly followed at Pakistani airports no one knows for sure whether or not someone affected with the new variant of the virus, which is highly infectious, has already arrived in the country and interacted with others. The new restriction, however, would apply to all persons who start their travel from the UK and are in or have been in the UK over the past 10 days but Pakistani passport holders who have travelled to the UK on visitor/temporary visas will be allowed to return to the country. The Government seems to be mindful of the fact that any ban or restriction should not increase difficulties of Pakistani nationals but at the same time the authorities concerned must ensure that the arrangements specified for the purpose are minutely implemented. The authorities should strictly monitor the situation as the new virus is spreading to other countries as well requiring prompt decisions to ban travel to and from these countries. It is yet to be seen whether the new virus is resistant to the vaccines developed by some countries to boost the immune system of the body. However, as it will take some time to reach at the right conclusion through lab tests, precaution is the only remedy available for now to check its spread.
