Bengaluru mandates RT-PCR test, quarantine for passengers from Omicron-affected nations

Bengaluru: Karnataka Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar on Saturday said people arriving from the countries affected by the new variant of COVID-19 (Omicron), will have to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival in Bengaluru.

“People coming from these affected countries will take the RT-PCR once they land in Bengaluru. If found positive, they will stay in and around the airport and undergo treatment when required. Home quarantine will be mandatory after their arrival,” said state health minister Dr K Sudhakar.

He added, “We came out with six genomic laboratories in the last six months and are in a situation where we can sequence, send samples and understand the progression of the mutation.”

He further said that the state government is constantly in touch with the Union Health Ministry and also said that they have information about the new strain in South Africa, Hong Kong, Israel, and Botswana which is very contagious and has overtaken the Delta variant.

Sudhakar also requested those who have not yet taken the second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine to get the same on priority.