Omicron variant: India makes RT-PCR test mandatory for international passengers at airport
By: Pallab Ghosh
Radiance News Service
Radiance News Service
The entire world is under the grip of a fresh scare wave of COVID's new variant called Omicron spreading its uncanny wings. If speculations are true then this new variant may kill over one-million people in the next few months if it's not dealt with stringently at the initial phase. However, the Worlds Health Organisation (WHO) is yet to lay down the advisory. Everything is at a speculative level and steps are being taken as a precaution. However, experts once again have requested all to adhere to the COVID protocols like Wearing masks, using hand-sanitisers, and maintaining social distancing.
Many countries have stopped international flights while others are planning to issue advisory for the travellers. India too has marked the following countries as most affected and has issued an advisory for the travellers arriving from these countries. Passengers arriving in India from these 'countries at high risk' will be scanned, and sent to isolation within airport premises. Indian Government has taken the following steps after a man who recently returned from South Africa tested positive for COVID-19.
Let's take the countries at a glance:
European countries include the United Kingdom, Botswana, China, Mauritius, Singapore, Hong Kong, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Israel, Brazil, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, and South Africa.
Things to be done before arrival:
- The visitor will have to fill and upload a self-declaration that they are negative.
- Also the negative RT-PCR test certificate on the Air Suvidha portal.
Need to do on arrival:
- P{assengers after arriving from these marked countries will have to undergo an RT-PCR test and will have to wait at the airport for the result which may take several hours.
On testing negative:
- If the person is tested negative then he or she is allowed to exit the airport premises but would have to stay in quarantine for seven days.
- The person would have to take another Rt-PCR test or retest on the eighth day.
On testing positive:
- If the person is positive then he or she will have to stay in strict isolation.
- Medical staff will conduct a genomic test to ascertain if that person is suffering from Omicron or not.
- The treatment will follow depending upon the condition of the person.
Those found negative and are allowed to exit may have to undergo a test at any time depending upon the situation.
As per the fresh advisory, passengers will be asked to declare 14 days' travel history. Apart from that, they will have to stay on a seven-day quarantine even if they test negative.
According to experts, this variant could be dreaded than the Delta variant and the symptoms will be different too. The patients who suffer from the Omicron variant may not have breathing or bronchial ailments like they had in the past. High fever, body ache, and fatigue are some of the symptoms that may get reflected. However, WHO is yet to announce if any booster dose is required to fight with Omicron.
Please stay posted on Radiance News Service for the Omicron variant. We shall bring you updates as and when it breaks.