Compulsory Covid test for foreigners arriving in Karnataka: Dr K Sudhakar
2 min read
Bengaluru: Minister for Health and Medical Education Dr K Sudhakar on Wednesday said “mandatory RTPCR examination will be done at the airport from today for all passengers coming to Karnataka from foreign nations.”
Sudhakar said “Chief Minister has instructed to make RTPCR mandatory for everyone coming from abroad. If the RTPCR test report at the airport comes up negative, travellers can go home and they will be subjected to a 7-day quarantine. Their health will be monitored during the quarantine period. For those who are symptomatic and reports are negative, they will be tested again on the fifth day. They are free to move only if negative report comes out after quarantine after 7 days. If RTPCR report is positive, they will be hospitalized and treated. Passengers may face some delay because testing is mandatory, but it is inevitable,” Minister added.
If Omicron virus is detected, they will be treated in special isolation wards at hospitals. Government has held talks with the hospital and medical colleges. The health department has already convened a meeting with district officials to suggest measures to be taken in this regard, Dr Sudhakar told media persons.
Talks with Centre on booster dose
On December 2 or 3 Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai will meet the Union Health Minister in Delhi and discuss about the booster dose for our Health Department staff and frontline workers. The advantages and other factors regarding administering booster dose will also be discussed. Tele-medicine, increasing the number of tests, wearing the mask mandatory and other safety guidelines will be strictly enforced.
If public cooperate with the government, we can quickly be overcome with fear. Awareness and vigilance is a must to overcome Omicron, said Dr K Sudhakar.
Covid Technical Advisory Committee has advised the government to stop facilities and penalize those who havent taken two doses of the vaccine. But government has no intention to do this. Instead, people who are not vaccinated will be sensitized and vaccinated. The number of people taking the vaccine has been increasing over the past two days. The house-to-house vaccine mitra program is picking up, the Minister said.
Dr K Sudhakar also said that, as of now, it is not very clear as to how Omicron will impact children. But we know that it is a very fast-spreading virus. Central government is also contemplating on the child vaccine. The vaccine is expected to be available in all states at the earliest.
– Team Mysoorunews
Mysooru News
