No more screening, tests, hand stamping and quarantine for visitors to state
BENGALURU:
Following the Centre’s concern over states continuing to impose Covid-linked restrictions on inter-state movement of persons and goods, the Karnataka government has decided to fall in line and has issued revised guidelines in conformity with those of the Centre.
The revised guidelines issued by the Health and Family Welfare on Monday make it clear that the following obligations imposed on inter-state travellers will be discontinued forthwith.
a. Registration on the Seva Sindhu portal
b. Entry and medical check-up at the state’s borders, bus stations, railway stations and airports
c. Screening at the receiving centres in the districts
d. Categorization of passengers
e. Hand stamping
f. 14 days of quarantine
g. Isolation and testing
h. Enforcement of home quarantine, including poster on the home door, information to neighbours/ Resident Welfare Association/Apartment Owners’ Associations, monitoring by panchayat/ward level teams/flying squads, IVRS call-centre outbound calls, quarantine watch app monitoring
But ‘advice’ remains
The circular goes on to ‘advise’ asymptomatic inter-state travellers to ‘self-monitor’ their health for 14 days after arrival, and symptomatic travellers to immediately self-isolate and seek medical consultation or call the Aptamitra helpline 14410.
It further ‘advises’ travellers on precautions like face masks, physical distancing of 6 feet, and frequent hand washing/use of hand sanitizer while in public areas and workplaces.
Leaving no room for doubt, the circular says the revised guidelines ‘shall apply’ to all Inter-state travellers arriving in Karnataka from all states/UTs, including business travellers, students, labourers coming for work, transit travellers, etc., irrespective of their purpose of visit or duration of stay.
It further instructs the district officials to implement the guidelines with immediate effect and without any deviations at the district level.
