Wearing face masks mandatory on domestic flights as Covid cases surge

ISLAMABAD: The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) has once again made the wearing of face masks mandatory for domestic flights due to the new surge in COVID-19 cases.

According to a notification, all concerned quarters must ensure compliance with the new order with immediate effect. The notification added that the other COVID-19 guidelines on domestic air travel remained unchanged.

The air regulator had lifted restrictions after the country overcame the fourth wave of coronavirus, however, after the recent surge, authorities are considering reimposing further SOPs.

Pakistan has witnessed a sudden uptick in coronavirus cases as health experts warned that increasing travel is one of the reasons behind the spike in positivity ratio.

READ MORE: Covid-19 update: Positivity ratio reaches 3.19%

According to the latest data by National Institute of Health’s (NIH). Karachi is the most affected city recording 22.65% positivity in the last 24 hours while the nationwide ratio was 2.85%.

In view of the recent spike in COVID-19 cases in the country, the health experts had warned that the surge in new infections may turn into the sixth wave of the pandemic. They have urged people to complete their immunization or get a booster short

In Karachi, 234 new infections were detected after 14,437 diagnostic tests were conducted over the past day.  In addition, Sindh’s overall positivity rate stands at 6.17%, Punjab’s 1.17%, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s 1.15% and AJK’s 2.94%.

As per the latest data, two more people succumbed to the virus in the country during the past 24 hours while 87 patients suffering from the disease are being treated in intensive-care. Pakistan’s number of active cases stands at 4,632 after the new cases.