Details of Omicron variant not known fully: Health Director
Source: The Sangai Express

Imphal, December 01 2021: Except for the fact that it is highly infectious, details of the Omicron variant of corona-virus are not known fully as yet, said Health Director Dr K Rajo.

Briefing media persons at RD Wing, Medical Directorate, Lamphelpat this after- noon, Dr Rajo said that the Omicron variant which was first detected in South Africa has now spread to 14 countries.

As of now, there is no evidence of the Omicron variant being more deadly than other variants detected earlier.

As such, people need not panic about the new variant, asserted the Health Director.

Following detection of Omicron variant in South Africa, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued a notification on November 28 whereby the guidelines which must be followed by every citizen were laid out.

Informing that the same guidelines have become operational across the country, Dr Rajo remarked that the new guidelines do not differ much from the previous one.

Eight people had reached Manipur till yesterday from Israel, New Zealand, Bangladesh and the United States which have been already categorised as risky countries.

Three of them belong to Imphal West, three others to Imphal East, one to Senapati and one to Kangpokpi.

People need not panic just because eight persons who had visited the risky countries have come back but it is crucial to strictly follow the Covid appropriate behaviour and complete the double dose vaccination as soon as possible, he said.

He went on to claim that the Health Department has been carrying on the vaccination campaign more vigorously.

As per the guideline which came into effect from today, any person who come to the State/country should bring a negative RT-PCR certificate and the test should be done not before 72 hours of his/her arrival.

Moreover, he/she should submit an online self declaration through Air Suvidha portal.

Moreover, he/she should submit travel details of the previous 14 days, Dr Rajo said.

As such, if the person is found to be positive on RT-PCR test, he/she would not be allowed to enter the country.

He/she would be allowed to enter India only when the test result is negative.

After arrival in India, the person would again go for RT-PCR test after a gap of eight days.

If the RT-PCR result turns out to be negative, he/she would be put in home quarantine for seven days.

In case, the test result turns out to be positive, his/her sample would be sent for genome sequencing.

If the sample is found to be positive after genome sequencing, necessary measures would be initiated, the Health Director said.

Claiming that all necessary measures have been taken up to tackle possible outbreak of Covid-19 third wave, Dr Rajo said that maximum efforts are being invested to enhance the existing the infrastructure needed for combating the pandemic.

The Covid hospital built at Kyamgei which would have 100 beds would be inaugurated soon.

At the same, due process is underway to upgrade some district hospitals, Dr Rajo added.

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