New Variant Of Corona: Odisha Govt Orders Strict Enforcement Of SOP For Air Passengers

Bhubaneswar: The state government has directed the authorities to enforce the SOP issued by Ministry of Health & Family Welfare in view of the mutated variant of coronavirus detected in the UK.

In a letter to the district collectors, CDMOs, Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda airports and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare department PK Mohapatra said a distinct Phylogenetic cluster of SARs-CoV-2 has been detected in UK which is spreading and growing rapidly.

At a time when the number of COVID-19 positive cases is declining steadily in
the state, any interjection of a SARS-CoV-2 variant virus through passengers with
air travel history may pose critical risks for management of the pandemic in the
state.

In view of the emerging situation, passengers with travel history of UK and
transiting through the airports in UK in the last 14 days of the arrival at the airport,
shall be required to fill up the Self Declaration Form.

They will be advised to remain in mandatory 14-day home quarantine with
self-monitoring and periodic monitoring by the Rapid Response Team. If any such person is found symptomatic within the quarantine period, RT-PCR test will be conducted. If the person tests positive, he will be isolated in an institutional isolation facility and advised for treatment as per the protocol.

If the person tests negative, he will be advised to complete the 14
days home quarantine period, the letter stated.

Mohapatra requested the authorities to ensure strict adherence to the SOP issued by
Ministry with mandatory screening of the persons with travel history of UK and necessary follow up action for prevention of the spread of the new variant
of SARS-CoV-2 in the state.

Also Read: No Need To Panic For Mutated Variant Of Coronavirus, Says NITI Aayog