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Tourism Expected To Peak During the Eidul Azha
With tourism expected to peak during the Eidul Azha holidays, the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has advised travelers to exercise caution, check weather forecasts and pre-book their accommodations.
An advisory issued on Wednesday stated that the Covid-19 cases were rising once again and therefore, tourists should strictly adhere to the SOPs.
805 More Covid-19 Cases Have Been Reported
In the last 24 hours, as many as 805 more Covid-19 cases have been reported, taking the national positivity to 4.69 pc, while the number of patients in critical care has increased to 169.
Tourists have been advised to wear masks, use hand sanitisers and avoid going to crowded places and maintain social distancing.
“It should be made sure that all tourists [are] vaccinated and those who have been vaccinated, should go for the booster dose,” the advisory stated.
Tourists Should Check Weather Prediction
The tourists should check weather prediction and confirm hotel bookings before traveling.
“As hotels and restaurants … remain jam-packed during Eid holidays, make sure that your residence is already booked and you have edible items [to] use in case of prolonged stay,” it stated.
National Institute of Health (NIH) Executive Director Maj Gen Aamer Ikram also urged tourists to collect route and weather information before embarking on the journey.
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Strictly Adhere To The SOPs
In a statement, Minister of Health Abdul Qadir Patel also urged the masses to strictly adhere to the SOPs.
In a separate development, the US government has donated four mobile laboratories to Pakistan to strengthen the capacity for Covid-19 testing and other communicable diseases.
US Agency For International Development
The laboratories donated through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) will improve the accuracy of diagnoses, reduce testing turnaround time, and protect healthcare workers.
The state-of-the-art laboratories were handed over to the NIH and Ministry of Health on Wednesday in a ceremony in Islamabad.
Ceremony Attended By The US Ambassador
The ceremony was attended by the US Ambassador Donald Blome and Federal Health Minister Abdul Qadir Patel, along with the ministry officials.
Addressing the ceremony, Mr Blome commended the healthcare workers and officials for their effective response to the pandemic.