Manipur Health director Dr K Rajo said a new protocol will be in place for international arrival at the Imphal airport from Wednesday midnight as a preventive measure in view of the growing concern over Omicron globally.
He was speaking to the media during the state-level press briefing on 'COVID-19 pandemic' at RD Wing, Imphal West.
The director informed that as many as eight travellers from four countries “at risks” had entered the state till Tuesday. Fortunately, all of them tested negative, he said, adding that they are in home quarantine.
Rajo said the infrastructure of the healthcare facilities in the state has been upgraded at the maximum possible extent, with the initiative of both the state and central government.
As such, the public need not panic given all the preventive measures taken up by the state to face any eventuality, he added.
Elaborating on the new guidelines, state surveillance officer Dr Somorjit said travellers should submit their travel history of the last 14 days.
Somorjit said travellers will be tested again on arrival at the airport in addition to mandatory production of Covid negative testing report (by RTPCR) conducted within 72 hours prior to taking the journey.
The person will be allowed to exit the airport only after testing negative and they will be tested again after eight days, he added.
He further informed that 14 days of home quarantine is compulsory for all travellers even if they tested negative.
By chance, if a traveller is tested positive, the person will be kept in a special isolation unit and a sample will be sent for genome sequencing, added the surveillance officer.
State immunisation officer Dr Manihar appealed to all the eligible public to get fully vaccinated asserting it the best preventive measure as of now.
He also announced that the health department is ready to give the service of doorstep vaccination if required.
The total fatalities of COVID in November are 56, of which 50 are unvaccinated, one was fully vaccinated and the remaining five were vaccinated with the first dose.
It has been informed that the state has provided Rs 50 lakh each to the kins of three healthcare workers who succumbed to Covid-19 in the line of duty.
