Omicron scare: Karnataka issues new guidelines for international passengers

As a new Covid variant 'Omicron' wreaks havoc in various countries, several governments, including India rushed to impose restrictions on international travel. The Karnataka government issued new guidelines for international visitors on Monday.

Travellers arriving from the at-risk 12 countries will be subjected to RT-PCR tests, according to a Department of Health circular. According to the newly released guidelines, travellers will be required to stay at home for seven days and will be subjected to retesting on the eighth day.

Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai said that international passengers can only leave airports with a negative test report. In the case of the new strain, the World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines will be followed. Precautionary measures have also been recommended by the Prime Minister and the Union Health Minister, which will be implemented.

CM also claimed that Karnataka has started taking precautionary measures much earlier.

If passengers test positive, their samples will be sent to genomic sequencing, after which they will be admitted to a separate isolation facility, said newly released guidelines. If the genomic sequencing for B.1.1.529 i.e Omicron variant is negative, they will be discharged at the discretion of the treating physician.

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For travellers from countries that are not on the "at-risk" list, a random sample of 5% of travellers with negative results will be subjected to RT-PCR testing. Their samples will be sent to genomic sequencing if they test positive.

All European countries including the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Israel, are on the list of countries where travellers must follow additional measures upon arrival.

Officials have been directed to conduct RT-PCR tests for those who arrived 15 days earlier from Kerala and Maharashtra, in light of recent clusters of Covid-19 cases detected at educational institutions in Dharwad and Mysuru districts. On the seventh day of their arrival, students from neighbouring states will be subjected to additional RT-PCR tests.

The government has also requested that all social, cultural, and academic activities be postponed by educational institutions.