Bhubaneswar: In view of the emergence of the new COVID variant Omicron, Odisha government has issued fresh guidelines.
In a video conference with district level officials from Bhubaneswar on Sunday, Chief Secretary Suresh Suresh Chandra Mohapatra said “we need to be more vigilant and proactive to prevent a possible third wave.”
As schools and colleges have reopened, economic activities have increased after the lifting of COVID lockdown and all programmes related to implementation of livelihood have resumed, the district administrations should be more alert and expedite vaccinations through house-to-house campaigns.
The Chief Secretary also advised all the block officials, ward members, Anganwadi and health workers to gather ground reports of COVID infection in their respective areas and immediately take action if signs of corona cases are detected.
He asked the officials to ensure strict implementation of COVID protocol including mask wearing, use of sanitisers and adherence to social distance norm. In case of violations, stringent action must be taken against them, he added.
Development Commissioner Pradip Jena and ACS Health and Family Welfare, Rajkumar Sharma also appealed people to follow the guidelines and COVID appropriate behaviour to help the government in preventing a possible third wave.
Earlier, Health Director Bijay Mohapatra emphasised on stringent examination of foreign travellers to check the virus from entering the state.
All travellers coming from international destinations will have to undergo testing and genome sequencing. Special attention will be given to passengers at the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Community surveillance and awareness will be ramped up and requested people to take the second shot of COVID-19 vaccine when their turn comes, the Health Director added.
People should be more cautious and follow COVID appropriate behaviour, he added.
Earlier this week, the Centre instructed the state governments to ensure rigorous screening and testing of all international travellers landing in India from countries ‘at risk’ of COVID.
On November 26, Odisha imposed restrictions on travellers coming from South Africa, Botswana and Hong Kong to Biju Patnaik International Airport.
The travellers will have to undergo COVID-19 test mandatorily. If necessary the traveller will have to remain under isolation for 10 days.
In case one traveller is found positive, the samples will be sent to detect the variant, he added.
The South Africa variant Omicron carries 32 mutations, many of which suggest it is highly transmissible and vaccine-resistant, and has more alterations to its spike protein than any other variant.
