Bhubaneswar: At least 380 passengers from Omicron ‘at-risk’ countries have arrived in Odisha on 28-29 November.
While 224 persons returned to Odisha on 28 November, 156 persons arrived in the State on 29 November, said State Public Health Director Niranajn Mishra.
“So far, the State Government has received data of returnees of two days. As per the Centre’s directive, all the returnees are being tested at the International airports. As per the protocol, they are allowed to leave the airport only after they test negative for Covid-19,” he said.
Those found positive will immediately be sent to isolation and the swab samples will be sent for genome sequencing, Dr.Mishra said.
If the test report comes negative, the traveler or returnee will have to remain under seven-day home quarantine mandatorily and again undergo for another round of Covid-19 test on the eighth day, the director said.
After that, the concerned person will also remain under self-observation for another seven days. In total, one person will have to remain under surveillance for at least 14 days, he added.
Director Health Services, Bijay Mohapatra said the new variant has been termed as ‘variant of concern.’ WHO and other international and national bodies are under tense for the new variant, he said.
“Till now it is ascertained that their severity is less and it is affecting the young population. Experts groups are advising for intensified vaccination drive which will certainly act as a protection,” Mohapatra said.
He appealed to all to use masks and follow all Covid appropriate behaviour as a preventive measure.
Meanwhile, 33 students of a Plus II residential college in Dhenkanal town of Odisha tested Covid-19 positive. The local authority sealed college buildings and its hostel, and declared it as a micro containment zone.
More than 70 students of medical college in Burla of Sambalpur district, 53 girl students of a government-run high school in Sundargarh and 26 students of a tribal school in Mayurbhanj district have tested positive for the virus in the past few days.
Khurda District Administration has decided to strengthen enforcement activities in all public places.