Image by ThePixelman from Pixabay
Bengaluru: In the wake of reports of a mutant coronavirus strain rapidly spreading across the United Kingdom, the Karnataka Government has mandated quarantine for all passengers arriving from Britain, including those who are transitioning.
As per the health advisory issued by the state government, all passengers arriving from the UK will also have to take an RT-PCR test.
“All passengers arriving in flights from London and those transiting through airports outside the UK will undergo a RT-PCR test at Bengaluru and Mangaluru airports following the detection of a new variant of Covid in the UK,” said state Health Secretary Jawid Akhtar in an order.
The government has also instructed international airports in Bengaluru and Mangaluru to send the details of all passengers who have arrived in Karnataka from the UK since December 7 till today.
If any passenger tests positive for COVID-19, they will be isolated at a hospital and their samples will have to be sent to NIMHANS, Bengaluru for molecular testing.
Those who test negative will have to strictly self isolate for 14 days and District Surveillance Officers must be notified about the same for a quarantine follow-up.
“Contact details of all passengers from the UK should be given to district surveillance officers for quarantine follow-up,” added the order.
It can be recalled that the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation ordered for the suspension of all flights from the UK to India from December 22 till December 31.
