Omicron Fear Spreads: Mumbai Announces Genome Sequencing, Gujarat Orders RT-PCR Tests, Delhi CM Calls For Ban On Flights; Check Details

New Delhi: Passengers arriving at Mumbai airport from South Africa, where the new coronavirus variant Omicron has been detected, will be quarantined, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar said today.

Swabs of passengers found positive will be sent for genome sequencing, she added.

“There are concerns in Mumbai about the new variant. Genome sequencing of (positive) passengers coming from South Africa will be done. There is no restriction on outbound flights in any way. But this decision has been taken keeping in view past experience,” Pednekar said.

The Gujarat government today mandated RT-PCR testing for travellers landing in the state from a host of countries amid growing global concern over the new Covid variant.

Gujarat mandated RT-PCR testing for travellers from Europe, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe and Hong Kong.

Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to stop all flights from countries reporting cases of the new coronavirus strain.

“I urge Honourable PM to stop flights from those countries which are affected by the new variant. With great difficulty, our country has recovered from Corona. We should do everything possible to prevent this new variant from entering India,” Kejriwal tweeted today morning.

Dutch health authorities said that dozens of people who arrived in Amsterdam on two flights from South Africa on Friday are likely infected with COVID-19, and they are conducting further testing to see if people are infected with the recently discovered Omicron variant.

Around 600 passengers arrived at Amsterdam’s Schiphol Airport on the two KLM flights on Friday. On the basis of initial testing, Dutch health ministry estimated there may be around 85 positive cases among the passengers.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has designated the new coronavirus strain, B.1.1.529, first detected in South Africa, as a “variant of concern” (VOC) and named it Omicron.

The latest variant has been found so far in Israel, Belgium, Botswana and Hong Kong.

The Omicron strain has spooked the globe, with nations rushing to ban flights and stocks and oil prices crashing.

Over 15 countries have announced travel restrictions to and from South Africa. India on Friday added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India.

The US, which lifted a ban on air travel earlier this month, has imposed fresh travel restrictions from South Africa. The UK has announced temporary ban on flights from six African countries. Brazil has decided to close its air space with six African nations.

Canada said that it was closing its border to all foreigners who have been to seven South African countries in the last 14 days.

Austria, Netherlands, France, Malta, Italy and Switzerland too have announced flight restrictions. Japan has tightened measures on international flights from the six nations.