India’s ban on international flights extended till Aug.31
UAE sees 1,520 new COVID-19 cases, 4 deaths; Saudi lifts entry ban on visit visa holders from Aug.1; unvaccinated Sindh govt staff will not be issued salaries after Aug.31; Japan expands virus emergency after record spikes
India on Friday extended the suspension on international commercial flight operations till Aug.31.
“In partial modification of circular dated June 26, 2020, the competent authority has further extended the validity of circular issued on the above subject... regarding scheduled international commercial passenger services to or from India till 2359 hrs IST of August 3, 2021,” the circular issued by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation ( DGCA) said.
The circular said that the restriction shall not apply to international all-cargo operations and flights specifically approved by the DGCA.
“However, international scheduled flights may be allowed on selected routes by the competent authority on case to case basis.”
Passenger air services were suspended on March 25, 2020 due to the nationwide lockdown to check the spread of Covid-19.
Domestic flight services, however, resumed from May 25, 2020.
In the UAE, the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP) announced that it conducted 297,815 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing equipment.
The ministry announced 1,520 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of recorded cases in the UAE to 679,321.
MOHAP also announced 4 deaths due to COVID-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 1,943.
MOHAP also noted that an additional 1,497 individuals had fully recovered from COVID-19, bringing the total number of recoveries to 656,680.
The ministry has announced that 62,064 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine were given in the past 24 hours.
The total number of doses provided up to today stands at 16,738,830 with a rate of vaccine distribution of 169.24 doses per 100 people.
In Saudi Arabia, the authorities announced on Friday it would reopen its borders to fully vaccinated foreign tourists ater a 17-month closure due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Ministry of Tourism announced that the Kingdom will open its doors to foreign tourists, and lit... the suspension of entry for tourist visa holders, starting from August 1,” the Saudi Press Agency reported.
It said travellers fully vaccinated with Saudiapproved jabs — Pfizer, Astrazeneca, Moderna or Johnson & Johnson — will be able to enter the kingdom “without the need for an institutional quarantine period,” provided they also have proof of a negative PCR Covid-19 test taken within the last 72 hours and register their details with health authorities.
In Pakistan, the Sindh government on Friday decided to impose a lockdown in the province from Saturday till Aug.8 amid rising COVID-19 cases.
According to a handout issued, restrictions will remain in place till Aug.8. However, businesses associated with the export sector will be allowed to operate. The key decisions included: There will be a ban on inter-city travel; all markets will remain closed. All government offices will be closed from next week and unvaccinated government employees will not be issued salaries ater Aug.31.
Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE has sought assistance form the emirates to bring back stranded expatriate workers to the country.
Afzaal Mahmood, the Ambassador of Pakistan to the UAE held a detailed meeting with senior officials from UAE’S Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE).
Afzaal sought their assistance in helping Pakistani expatriate workers, including extension of work permits and visas of those who could not return to the UAE due to suspension of flights.
The ambassador was informed that the Pakistanis, overstaying in the native country due to flight suspension, could get their work permits and visas extended through their employers.
Japan expanded a coronavirus state of emergency to four more areas in addition to Tokyo on Friday following record spikes in infections as the capital hosts the Olympics.
Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga declared an emergency in Saitama, Kanagawa and Chiba, near Tokyo, as well as in the western city of Osaka, effective Monday until Aug. 31. Emergency measures already in place in Tokyo and the southern island of Okinawa will be extended until the end of August, ater the Olympics and well into the Paralympics which start Aug. 24.