TEHRAN – Some 214 passengers, who had tested positive at the borders, have so far been temporarily quarantined since March 10, under a plan to rapidly identify suspected cases of coronavirus and prevent the spread of new strains.

Some 868,978 passengers have so far been screened for coronavirus by thermal tests at the country's official borders, Mehdi Valipour, head of Relief and Rescue Organization affiliated to the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), has stated.

During the aforesaid period, IRCS forces have conducted 154,746 PCR tests and 79,332 rapid tests, he said, IRNA reported on Monday.

A total of 471 members of the IRCS cooperate for carrying out the plan in 16 provinces across the country, Valipour concluded.

With the cooperation of ministries of health and transport, a plan is being implemented with the goal of rapidly identifying and testing incoming passengers and keeping them in quarantine facilities, if necessary.

Thirty border checkpoints have been selected, including 18 land borders, nine air borders, and three sea borders, all incoming passengers will be tested and referred to the quarantine facilities in case of necessity.

Around 8,000 individuals enter the country via borders on a daily basis.

Negative PCR mandatory

On August 22, Iran announced that all travelers must have a negative PCR test certificate or a health card to enter the country during the Covid-19 pandemic, IRINN reported.

By the emergence of the highly contagious Omicron variant, countries are adopting new regulations to prevent the transmission of the variant, so that Iran’s National Headquarters for Coronavirus Control on November 27 banned arrivals from the African countries.

However, 34 cases of the new Omicron strain have so far been identified in the country, and 8 suspected cases are being tested.

There are no direct flights from Iran to South Africa and travelers are not allowed to enter Iran, Iranians who want to travel must also be quarantined at the border to have two negative PCR tests.

Foreign tourists must buy coronavirus insurance from authorized companies when entering the country, and if they suffer from the pandemic in Iran, they will be provided with a place and treatment for 14 days.

Inbound passengers must have coronavirus insurance, which differs from the routine insurance coverage purchased by all tourists before the coronavirus era.

FB/MG