BENGALURU: With the threat of Omicron variant looming large, Karnataka on Saturday decided to intensify screening of passengers from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong.
Those who have flown in from these three countries in the past 15 days — between November 12 and 27 — will be traced and subjected to repeat tests, said a circular.
Students who have come from Kerala in the past 16 days will be subjected to Covid tests again even if they have already reported negative, revenue minister R Ashoka said.
Also, RT-PCR negative reports have been made mandatory for those travelling from Kerala and Maharashtra.
Int’l travellers testing +ve to be shifted to Covid hospital
Passengers from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong will be allowed to leave the airport only if they turn negative for Covid following tests on arrival at the airport. “International passengers testing positive will be shifted to a designated Covid hospital and their genomic sequencing will be done on priority,” said health department officers. Those testing negative have to follow home quarantine rules and undergo testing on day 7 of arrival.
The meeting chaired by the CM discussed rise in Covid clusters. Revenue minister R Ashoka said: “We have tightened the vigil in districts bordering Kerala and Maharashtra. It is mandatory for those from these states to produce RT-PCR reports.”
Colleges have been directed not to organise group activities now.
No Omicron cases so far
The government said no Omicron variant cases have been reported in the state.
In November so far, 93 people from South Africa arrived at Bengaluru airport, of whom two tested positive. While one landed in Bengaluru prior to the new variant’s discovery, the other, a 66-yearold man, arrived on November 20. The man has no symptoms . “The genomic sequencing of both patients has confirmed they were infected with the Delta variant. They have no Omicron variant,” said BBMP health commissioner KV Trilok Chandra.
On Saturday, the government ramped up daily testing — from 60,000 to 80,000 across the state and from 25,000 to 30,000 in Bengaluru Urban .
