Staff Reporter / NEW DELHI
The Center has asked States and Union Territories to be extra vigilant in enforcing public health measures to contain the spread of Omicron variant of COVID-19. Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to Additional Chief Secretary and Principal Secretary of all States and UTs in this regard.
He said, International passengers, are arriving from both At-Risk and other countries to different States and Union Territories. He said, all State Surveillance Officers have been provided access to Air Suvidha portal of Ministry of Civil Aviation. Mr Bhushan asked the states to access the portal every day to know in advance the details of passengers coming in their respective States from different international airports.
Health Secretary said, constant vigilance regarding transmission of any variant is essential. He said, enhanced testing is the only strategy for detection of the virus. Contact tracing of all positive persons will remain the key to stopping the spread. All contacts of a positive person must be traced, quarantined and tested within 72 hours. Mr. Bhushan asked states that samples of all those who test positive must be sent for Whole Genome Sequencing expeditiously. He said, evidence indicates that fully vaccinated individuals are protected from severity of the disease. Covid Appropriate Behavior must be emphasized and enforced, especially in view of the higher transmissibility of Omicron. He said all efforts should be made to regulate crowds, enforce masking and social distancing at all times.