Omicron fallout: Karnataka tightens Covid precautions
Following CM’s high-level meeting, tighter measures in Karnataka include strict adherence to test-track-treat-vaccinate strategy, strict cap on participants in functions, scrapping college fests till Jan 15, and compulsory vaccination of parents of minor students
BENGALURU:
After Karnataka reported its (and the country’s) first two Omicron-positive cases on Thursday, the BJP government has decided to strictly implement the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination-enforcing Covid appropriate behaviour in the state.
The state government has also directed educational institution to postpone cultural activities until January 15. It has appealed to parents of children below 18 years to get inoculated with both doses of a vaccine for the safety of their kin.
These and other decisions were taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai, which was attended by the state’s Technical Advisory Committee and other officials.
ಇದನ್ನೂ ಓದಿ: Omicron:ಮಾಲ್, ಥಿಯೇಟರ್ ಗೆ ತೆರಳುವವರು ಕಡ್ಡಾಯವಾಗಿ 2 ಡೋಸ್ ಲಸಿಕೆ ಪಡಿದಿರಬೇಕೆಂಬ ನಿಯಮ ಜಾರಿಗೊಳಿಸಿದ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಸರ್ಕಾರ
The new guidelines are as follows:
- It is reiterated that there shall be strict implementation of the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination-enforcing adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.
- It is emphasized that all gatherings, meetings, conferences, etc., should strictly limit the number of participants to 500 and Covid-appropriate behaviour shall be strictly enforced during the event. The responsibility to enforce the same lies with the organisers.
- Cultural activities/fests and functions in all educational institutions should be postponed till 15th January 2022.
- Parents of children below 18 years who are going to school/college should be compulsorily vaccinated with two doses of a Covid vaccine.
Testing of health staff, elders
- Compulsory testing of health workers, old persons above 65 years and persons with comorbidities will be undertaken by the government.
- Entry to malls, cinema halls/theatres shall be allowed only to persons who are vaccinated with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
- Government servants shall be vaccinated with two doses of a Covid-19 vaccine.
- Wearing of face masks is an essential preventive measure. In order to strictly enforce the core requirement of masking, BBMP, district authorities and local authorities shall impose a fine of Rs 250 in municipal corporation areas and Rs100 in other areas for any violation in this regard.
Containment, border vigil
- There shall be intensive containment (micro-containment measures) and active surveillance in clusters/areas reporting higher cases to contain the spread locally.
- Strict surveillance at the border posts set up by the districts adjoining Kerala and Maharashtra states shall continue as per the prevailing circular/guidelines issued by the Department of Health and family Welfare, Govt. of Karnataka.
Penalties for violators
“Any person violating these measures will be liable to be proceeded against as per the provisions of Section 51 to 60 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, besides legal action under Section 188 of the IPC and other legal provisions as applicable,” note the guidelines issued by Tushar Giri Nath, Principal Secretary, Revenue Department, and Member Secretary, State Executive Committee.
“As of now, WHO has confirmed detection of the Omicron variant in more than 23 countries. Two cases of the Omicron variant have been detected in the state following genome sequencing by INSACOG. The Health and Family Welfare Department, Govt. of Karnataka, has issued guidelines for rigorous screening and testing of international arrivals from countries identified ‘at risk’ to prevent the spread of the VoC in the State, which is in line with the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Govt. of India,” the order maintains.
“The emerging situation entails pro-active monitoring and surveillance and focused implementation of the five-fold strategy of test-track-treat-vaccination-adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour to prevent the spread of the VoC in the state,” the order issued by Tushar Giri Nath says.
Also Read: New COVID measures in Karnataka: Two dose vaccination must to enter malls cinema halls
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