COVID Concern: Surveillance Measures For Japan, Thailand Arrivals; Know Why

Bengaluru: As daily COVID-19 cases show a rising trend in India, the Centre and state governments have started to take notice and prepare for a possible fourth wave.

Karnataka on Saturday ordered surveillance measures for travellers arriving from Japan and Thailand, including RT-PCR tests for symptomatic cases at the airport testing laboratory, PTI reported.

Screening, surveillance and tele-monitoring of international arrivals from these countries have been instructed, as per recommendations of the State COVID-19 Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).

A government circular stated that passengers arriving from Japan and Thailand have to undergo thermal screening, while those with symptoms must undergo RT-PCR tests. For those testing positive, their samples will be sent for genome sequencing.

Tele-monitoring of passengers from Japan and Thailand will be done at the respective districts for 14 days through call centre.

Explaining the rationale behind surveillance from Japan and Thailand arrivals only, the Principal Secretary to Health & Family Welfare TK Anil Kumar noted that COVID-19 cases have surged recently in China, Australia, Japan, Thailand, Vietnam, New Zealand, Russia and South Korea. Of the eight countries, direct flight services to Bengaluru are available only from Japan and Thailand, hence the decision.

India on Saturday reported 3,500 fresh cases, taking the tally to over 18,000 in six days.

Karnataka has a daily average of 110 cases and test positivity rate ranging between 0.9 and 1.1 per cent.