Omicron (B.1.1.529), a new variant of Coronavirus, has scared the globe once again. The new variant has been detected in South Africa, Brazil, UK, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel. So far, in India no case has been reported of the new variant yet. However, the country is taking all the precautions to avoid another wave.
Fresh guidelines
The Indian health ministry had proposed to resume international flights on December 15. On Sunday, the government has issued fresh guidelines for foreign travelers.
- It is mandatory for travelers to show RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport who are coming from Covid-19 ‘at-risk countries’.
- Travelers with a positive test report will be isolated with immediate effect and their samples would be sent further for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network.
- It is mandatory for travelers with a negative test report to go for a seven-day home-quarantine and PCR test on the eighth day.
- As per the fresh guidelines, only asymptomatic travelers shall be allowed to board the flight after thermal screening.
- It is mandatory to install Aarogya Setu app in mobile phones.
The statement by ministry said, “A sub-section (5% of total flight passengers) shall undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport on arrival".
The statement further reads, "Travelers from specified countries at risk will follow the protocol as detailed below: Submission of sample for post-arrival Covid-19 test at the point of arrival (self-paid). Such travelers will be required to wait for their test results at the arrival airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight."