Dispur, Dec 5: Recently 30 countries are hit by a new Variant of Covid19, I.e ‘Omicron’, The state government today released a new covid-related standard operating procedure (SOP) in Assam in view of the recent presence of new covid species Omicron, which has been spreading at an alarming rate in about 30 countries around the world, including Hong Kong, England-Italy, Israel, Germany, Canada, Portugal etc. The State Health Department on Sunday released a comprehensive SoP to be followed by international visitors entering Assam.
The health minister said that according to this SOP on Omicron, passengers travelling abroad and international visitors should stay in home quarantine for a minimum of 7 days, even if they are tested negative in a covid test after landing at the state airport.
On the other hand, if positive passengers are detected the samples of such passengers will be sent to the appropriate lab for genomic examination along with treatment as per the specific protocol.
RT PCR examination of covid has also been made mandatory for all the passengers travelling from abroad after landing at the airport.
5-year-old children are exempted from the above-mentioned SOP at the airport.
However, if covid symptoms develop in a child passenger they will be forwarded for a COVID test.
Health Minister Keshab Mahanta also directed each District Administration in the state with airports of keeping a track of all the passengers and under constant check, since passengers travelling through the air has the most probability of contracting the virus. Some of the important aspects of the new SOP issued for the purpose of preventing the transmission of Omicron in the state are:
Every air passenger and the international passenger heading to Assam will have to submit their declaration to the 'Air Facility' portal along with the foreign travelling data of the last 14 days before the flight and upload the negative report of the covid RTPCR test conducted within 72 hours before the journey. In addition, permission to board a flight can be obtained only by uploading a self-declared RTPCR exam report.
Special covid protocols will be followed at airports with more rigorous precautionary measures in case of passengers from countries already infected with Omicron.
it is mandatory for the passenger to go for a covid test after landing at the airport
After landing at the airport, the passengers must follow the covid protocol including minimum physical contact.
