Kolkata: The Ministry of Health has issued new warnings to scare know Omicron in Bengal.
Guidelines issued asking the district authorities to ensure international travelers from, or with a history of travel to, “risky” countries undergo another test after eight days of arrival to the country and also ensure their complete isolation protocol of their full 14 days prior to move freely.
“When cases of variant Omicron were confirmed to have been reported in the country, has become very important for strict supervision and follow-up of all international passengers arriving in the state.
In the interest of public health, prompted no oversight coordinated the right line with the guidelines of international travel issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, “read a memo from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare is directed to all CMOHS, DMS and KMC Municipal Commissioner.
Among the nations that are still “at risk” for Omicron, Kolkata has direct connectivity with only the UK, where there is only one flight a week.
The passengers originating or transit countries “at risk” is now undergoing testing post-arrival quarantine if they test negative and strict isolation.
The passengers need to send samples upon arrival.
If they test negative, they undergo a mandatory seven-day quarantine and be retested on the eighth day, following which they can destroy the isolation protocol.
“However, in the revised guidelines, has been added that even if the passenger as it tested negative in a retest conducted eight days after their arrival, they need to be kept in isolation for seven days to complete the period of isolation of 14 days,” said an official of the health department.
In the memo, the officials have also been requested to ensure contact tracing cell in every district and KMC will contact passengers and remind them of retesting.
If travelers develop symptoms, tests must be carried out with instead of waiting for the eighth day, the memo said.
Cell-cell contact tracing has also been tasked to trace the co-passengers of any international flyers who test positive.
The close contact of the traveler must also be tracked and kept in quarantine institutional and tested in accordance with the applicable protocols for patients.