Public should not panic over new Covid-19 variant Omicron, says Bommai
DAVANAGERE/BENGALURU:
Allaying public apprehensions in the wake of growing concerns over a new, more transmissible Covid-19 variant, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Monday made it clear that there was no proposal to impose a lockdown in the state. “We have called for strict precautions at schools and colleges, but not to close them. There is no proposal to impose a lockdown,” Bommai said.
Speaking to media persons in Davanagere, he urged people not to panic over Omicron, the new strain of the Covid-19 virus, and to strictly follow Covid guidelines. Those arriving from Omiron-prevalent countries are being screened at Karnataka airports. They are being allowed into the cities only if found negative on testing. A Covid-negative report had been made mandatory for students from Kerala who are studying in Karnataka, and a second test is being done on them on the 7th day of the first negative report, Bommai said.
Covid-19: ಲಾಕ್ ಡೌನ್ ಪ್ರಸ್ತಾವನೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಮುಂದಿಲ್ಲ : ಸಿಎಂhttps://t.co/btR3qdZzP6#ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ #Davangere #Bangalore #Bengaluru #Karnataka #Covid19 #NoLockdown #CM #ChiefMinister #BasavarajBommai @CMofKarnataka @BSBommai @DHFWKA @BBMPCOMM @KarnatakaVarthe pic.twitter.com/uAry7V2IVY
— Thebengalurulive/ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು ಲೈವ್ (@bengalurulive_) November 29, 2021
The state government is in constant consultation with experts and the Union government. Precautions are being taken according to their guidelines, Bommai said.
Replying to a question about a person who arrived from South Africa found to have different symptoms of the virus, Bommai said, “The test report of the person has been sent for genome sequencing. The exact variant of the virus would be known from the genome sequencing report.”
The state government is awaiting instructions from the Centre on administering a booster dose of the vaccine. “Our concern is that it is already over 6 months since health workers received two doses of the vaccine. We will act according to directions from the Centre,” Bommai said.
