Omicron: RT-PCR test compulsory for international travellers in Srinagar

The State Executive Committee has issued an order, mandating stringent screening and administration of the COVID-19 RT-PCR test for foreign arrivals at the Srinagar International Airport

In response to the threat of a new Covid variant - Omicron, officials have made the RT-PCR test mandatory for all international arrivals at Srinagar International Airport, and positive patients must have samples sent for genome sequencing.

Furthermore, officials have requested those travelling from "At-Risk" countries to stay in home quarantine for seven days after testing negative for COVID-19, and people arriving from "Non-At-Risk" countries to closely monitor themselves for at least two weeks after testing negative.

COVID-19 RT-PCR test mandatory at the Srinagar International Airport

According to an order issued by the State Executive Committee under section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, strict screening and administration of the COVID-19 RT-PCR test will be made mandatory at the Srinagar International Airport for international arrivals, in accordance with MoHFW guidelines issued from time to time.

Anyone who tests positive for COVID-19 will be isolated and treated according to established practice.

Positive case samples will be sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) and close tracking and testing of the contacts of travellers who have tested positive will be followed, according to the order.

Genomic sequencing analysis to be expedited

It also asked Designated Surveillance Officers to establish close coordination with their designated, tagged INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) for expediting genomic analysis results.

The UT administration has stated that necessary public health measures should be taken in the case of the presence of variants of concern or variants of interest reported by the INSACOG network.

Seven-day home quarantine mandatory for all arrivals from ‘At-Risk’ nations

People from "At-Risk" countries who test negative will be placed in home quarantine for seven days, according to the directive. However, they should be tested again on day 8 and, if negative, recommended to monitor themselves closely for at least two weeks.

On the other hand, travelers arriving from countries not deemed at risk and whose samples have tested negative should be advised to monitor themselves carefully for at least two weeks.

In order to ensure stringent implementation of containment measures as per MoHFW guidelines and to prevent the spread of variants of concern or variants of interest and the formation of clusters of cases, the principle of ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate’ shall be implemented, the order states.

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