Bhubaneswar: In view of the emergence of the new Covid variant Omicron, the Odisha government has issued fresh guidelines as precautionary measures.
The Odisha government issued fresh guidelines for the passengers arriving in the state:
All travellers into the state from any national and international destination will undergo quarantine mandatory. International quarantine control system will be organised for the foreigners.
All the passengers coming from abroad will undergo testing and genome sequencing. They will be monitored thoroughly.
Special attention will be given to the Bhubaneswar International Airport.
Health services director Bijay Mohapatra says, All are advised to take Covid-19 vaccine. Community surveillance and awareness will be ramped up. All the people across the state need to be more cautious and ensure that they follow appropriate Covid behaviour. These guidelines have been issued as per the instructions of the Centre.
Earlier this week, the Centre instructed the state governments to ensure ‘rigorous screening and testing’ of all international travellers landing in India from ‘at risk’ countries.
On November 26, Odisha has imposed restrictions on travellers coming from three countries to Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar.
Reportedly, the three countries include: South Africa, Botswana and Hongkong.
The travellers will have to undergo COVID-19 test mandatorily. If necessary the traveller will have to remain under isolation for 10 days.
In case one traveller is found positive, the samples will be sent to detect the variant, added DMET chief.
It is to be noted that British experts have sounded the alarm over a new Covid variant believed to have emerged in ‘Botswana’ that is the most mutated version of the virus yet. It has already been spotted in three countries, suggesting the variant is more widespread. Three infections have been detected in Botswana to date and six in South Africa — where variant surveillance is more robust. One case has also been spotted in a 36-year-old man in Hong Kong who recently returned from the continent, the report added.
It carries 32 mutations, many of which suggest it is highly transmissible and vaccine-resistant, and has more alterations to its spike protein than any other variant.
Also Read: Restrictions to be imposed on travellers from 3 countries: DMET
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