In J&K – hiding travel History can result in punishment
New Delhi, Dec 02:
The Centre on Thursday informed that two persons have tested positive for the Omicron variant of the coronavirus in Karnataka.
A 46-year-old male and a 66-year-old male were those who contracted the variant.
Addressing a media briefing Joint Secretary of the Union Health Ministry, Lav Agarwal said all primary and secondary contacts of the two infected persons from Karnataka have been identified and they are being monitored and COVID-protocols are being followed.
The two cases of Omircron were detected through genome sequencing effort of Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) consortium of 37 laboratories established by Union Health Ministry, said Balram Bhargava, Director General of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) at today’s same press briefing.
Meanwhile, Lav Agarwal informed that the Omicron variant can be five times more infectious than the other known variants of the novel coronavirus.
Omicron variant which has been cited by WHO as Variant of Concern and several countries across the world geared up in the wake of it to prevent its spread into their territories by putting restrictions on travels; however, India is no more safe from Omicron as two cases of it have been reported in Karnataka, as per DG ICMR.
Bhargava said that there is no need to panic and underscored on the importance of adhering to covid appropriate behaviour. “Use of masks, hand hygiene and not organising mass gatherings will help break the chain of transmission of Omicron,” he added.
As the Omicron variant has rattled the nations across the globe, the DC Srinagar has warned of meting out punishment with a fine to the tune of Rs. 20,000 on the ones who hide their international travel histories. He also said the same should be treated with those domestic travellers having international travel histories within the last two weeks but hiding it from authorities’ knowledge.
He also said that for international travellers, a mandatory RT-PCR test would be conducted at Srinagar Airport and quarantined in the administrative quarantine till the results of their RT-PCR.
On positive RT-PCR result, Asad also said that the infected persons would be taken to DRDO hospital in Khanmoh, Srinagar. Whereas the ones with negative results would be either home quarantined or quarantined in hotels in case of tourists, he said.
