Centre Issues New Guidelines For Omicron Variant Of COVID-19

Public on: 29-Nov-2021 Views 2010

Centre Issues New Guidelines For Omicron Variant Of COVID-19

The Omicron variant of the COVID-19 virus found in South Africa has now spread to 15 countries. India too is on alert on the potential risks of the new variant.

The Central government has issued new guidelines for international travellers returning to India today on Monday. This includes sustained COVID testing and strict quarantine. Earlier, the Centre had asked state governments to conduct testing and isolation of individuals entering their respective state borders along with other steps.

These Are The New Rules For Omicron Variant

People returning from international travel will have to sign a Self-declaration form at the airport itself. Along with this, a negative RT-PCR test report will have to be provided. If ay of these are not met then the person’s entry into India will not be allowed.

India’s Health Ministry issued a notice on Friday which categorized countries such as Brazil, New Zealand, Botswana, South Africa, Britain, Europe, and Israel as a ‘Risk Country’.

The new variant of the coronavirus has been found in many of these countries. The Centre’s new guidelines say that people entering India from these countries will have to give their samples though an RT-PCR test. If any sample is found CVID-positive, then it will be sent for genome sequencing to determine if it is the new Omicron variant.

If the testing turns up positive for the Omicron variant, then strict quarantine rules will be imposed on the infected individual. Even for those who return from ‘risk’ countries and are found negative upon testing, a seven-day isolation will be mandatory.

Those returning from non-‘risk’ countries will also have to undergo random RT-PCR testing, and if found positive, their samples will also be sent for genome sequencing. Those travelling from non-‘risk’ countries and showing negative samples after testing have been asked to strictly self-observe for symptoms for a two-week period.

These rules are equally applicable to both vaccinated and unvaccinated people.

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