Karnataka’s dubious ‘first’: South African national detected with Omicron
Order by Karnataka ACS (Health) Jawaid Akhtar says arrivals from Brazil, South Africa must wait at airport for test result
BENGALURU:
Exercising abundant caution, the Karnataka government has mandated an RT-PCR Covid test at Kempegowda International Airport and other airports in the state for arrivals from Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. Arrivals from these countries will have to give their samples at the airport and leave in accordance with the existing SOP.
In adding these countries to an earlier list of countries, an order issued on Wednesday by Jawaid Akhtar, Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare, referred to an earlier Union government order and said: “Undergoing RT-PCR is made mandatory for international arrivals from selected countries, irrespective of the negative test report brought from the boarding point.”
Variant worries
The order continued: “In view of the new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 being reported and the rising incidence of Variants of Concern (VoC) and Variants of interest (Vol), passengers arriving from Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe should undergo RT-PCR test.
Circular Regarding Mandatory RT-PCR for International Arrivals.@CMofKarnataka @mla_sudhakar @hublimandi @Kalaburgivarthe @drmsbc @drmubl @DrmMys @Namducbpura @NammaBengaluroo @WFRising @DDChandanaNews @BelagaviKA @AIRBENGALURU1 @KarnatakaVarthe @PIBBengaluru pic.twitter.com/q7tBFuuJY7
— K'taka Health Dept (@DHFWKA) September 1, 2021
The order clarified: “Passengers arriving from the UK, Europe, the Middle East, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe on arrival at Kempegowda International Airport and other entry airports in Karnataka shall provide the sample and leave the airport for further compliance as per the SOP.”
The order’s caveat reads: “However, passengers arriving from Brazil and South Africa after providing the samples at Kempegowda international Airport/other entry airports shall wait for the results in the airport. They shall leave the airport only after testing negative.”
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