New Delhi: Amid rising concern about a new COVID-19 variant Omicron first detected in South Africa, India on Friday added several countries to the list from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing for infection.
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare added Hong Kong and Israel to the list of countries from where travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India, including post-arrival testing considering the detection of new COVID variant ‘Omicron’ in South Africa.
Countries from where the travellers would need to follow additional measures on arrival in India are South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, countries in Europe including the UK.
“lt is therefore imperative that all international travellers travelling from and transiting through these countries, (they are part of the “at risk” Country Category of international travellers coming to lndia) are subjected to rigorous screening and testing”, the communication said.
“The contacts of these international travellers must also be closely tracked and tested as per MoHFW guidelines.”
Earlier, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to health secretaries of all states and Union Territories, said: “lt has now been reported by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that multiple cases of a COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 (named as Omicron) have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Hong Kong (1 case).
List of countries with which the Government of India has an agreement for mutual recognition of vaccination certificate for individuals fully vaccinated with Nationally recognized or WHO recognized COVID-19 vaccine and those exempting Indian citizens fully vaccinated with Nationally recognized or WHO recognised vaccines.
This variant is reported to have a significantly high number of mutations, and thus, has serious public health implications for the country, in view of recently relaxed visa restrictions and opening up of international travel.”
Meanwhile, India recorded 8,318 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, taking the country’s total caseload since the pandemic began to 3,45,63,749, according to health ministry data updated on Saturday morning.
These new cases are 21 per cent lower than Friday’s spike of 10,549 fresh cases.
Also, 465 new fatalities were also recorded, taking the total Covid deaths in India to 4,67,933.
