States up vigil to fight Omicron variant, tough scrutiny at major airports

Spooked by the news of a new coronavirus variant of Concern (VoC), Omicron, detected in South Africa and its neighbouring countries, state governments have sprung into action to ensure early detection and precaution. Besides stringent scrutiny at all major airports, several measures are being put in place.

The Mumbai civic body, for instance, has asked its wards to sanitise public toilets five times a day, re-inspect the Covid-19 jumbo treatment centres, review ward warrooms, check the production and storage of oxygen, assess the stock of essential medicines and manpower as also of electrical and fire-fighting systems.

The city’s private hospitals have been asked to start preparing for any spike in cases. A meeting was held on Saturday between the police, airport officials, Covid-19 task force and civic body officials. At present, Mumbai’s daily Covid-19 count is contained at around 200.

On Saturday, Maharashtra, which is among the country’s most populous states, made it mandatory for people to be vaccinated to access public places and public transport.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray told senior officers: “Don’t wait for central restrictions, get to work. We will have to follow all restrictions if we want to avoid a lockdown. Keep a vigil on all arriving international passengers.”

The state government has indicated it would closely monitor crowding at weddings and open spaces to avoid super-spreader events. Guest capacity will be sealed at 25 per cent even for open-to-sky spaces like stadiums and wedding venues.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) said all international travellers arriving at the Mumbai airport will have to undergo mandatory RT-PCR testing (even if they have negative Covid-19 reports or vaccination certificates). Anyone who tests positive will be sent to institutional quarantine centres, while their samples will be sent for genome testing.

The state is likely to notify these orders on Monday. It is yet to take a final call on whether to opt for home or institutional quarantine, a government source said. 

Additional Municipal Commissioner, BMC, Suresh Kakani said they are being pro-active even though there are no direct flights from South African countries to Mumbai. “Incoming international travellers are required to provide a self-declaration letter stating their travel information for the last fortnight. Their passports should be scrutinised by airport authorities,” he added.

The Centre has directed all states to ramp up health infrastructure, enhance testing and surveillance in light of the Omicron variant. In a letter, the health ministry asked the chief secretaries of all states to ensure there are no delays in providing care.

On the alert

Delhi
 

Government to hold a meeting of Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Monday. To assess health infrastructure and testing facilities. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has asked the Prime Minister to stop flights from countries affected by the new variant. “With great difficulty, our country has recovered from corona. We should do everything possible to prevent this new variant from entering India,” he said.

Tamil Nadu

Has increased screening facilities at international airports. Has appointed an assistant programme manager at Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai and Trichy airports for the purpose. In the last week, 56,000 passengers have been tested at Chennai airport alone, of which three were detected with Covid.

To tackle vaccine hesitancy, the state has, through a notification, made inoculation against Covid-19 mandatory for the entire eligible population besides making it compulsory for accessing public places like theatres and malls. Several local bodies are offering gifts like sarees, television sets, refrigerators, washing machines, gas stoves, mixers, grinders, and iron boxes for vaccination.  

TN has also made 100 per cent quarantine and full vaccination certificates mandatory for international travellers, along with a repeat of testing after eight days. Passengers from South Africa, China, Brazil, Hong Kong and Israel will be especially in focus.

Kerala 

Has increased screening facilities at international airports and made seven-day quarantine mandatory for all foreign passengers. Kerala Health Minister Veena George has directed officials to ensure that tests are made mandatory for all in-bound passengers aged five-plus, besides conducting them post-quarantine. Measures are also being taken to ensure oxygen availability.

Uttar Pradesh

In his advisory, UP Additional Chief Secretary, Medical and Health, Amit Mohan Prasad has directed all chief medical officers to screen travellers arriving from, or transiting through, these high-risk countries. Their contacts will also be screened.

The government has ordered a strict vigil on foreigners coming in large numbers to Agra, Prayagraj, Varanasi, Lucknow and Kanpur. UP State Surveillance Officer Vikasendu Agarwal said guidelines have been issued to ensure thorough screening of travellers who have returned from abroad over the past 14 days.  A list of those who have been vaccinated with the first and second dose has also been sought.