Peshawar, Jun 18 (IANS): The entry of visitors to the Peshawar airport has been banned in the wake of a surge in COVID-19 cases, it was reported on Thursday.

An official statement issued here on Wednesday said the acha Khan International Airport's chief operating officer Ubaid-ur-Rehman Abbasi had directed the officials to ensure implementation of health guidelines to contain spread of pandemic, reports Dawn news.

He said entry of guests in the airport and reception for passengers outside would not be allowed.

Women and children on the premises of the airport had already been banned, and a fine would be imposed on violation of the guidelines.

He said checking by medical teams and the airport staff through thermal guns was mandatory for every passenger before entering the airport.

Abbasi said the National Disaster Management Authority and the Civil Aviation Authority had installed five latest scanners and checking of all passengers with thermal scanners was compulsory.

He said samples of passengers coming from abroad were also collected upon arrival.