Covid -ve report must for BBN staff after five-day leave

Solan, December 27

Employees of industrial units in the Baddi-Barotiwala-Nalagarh (BBN) area will have to furnish a negative RT-PCR test report for resuming duty after availing more than five days of leave.

Quarantine advisory

Staff coming from high-viral load states, where Omicron cases have been reported, have also been advised to undergo five-day quarantine, apart from producing an RT-PCR negative test report before rejoining duty.

To prevent the spread of highly contagious Omicron variant in the BBN area, Nalagarh SDM Mahendra Pal today issued these orders.

This stipulation will, however, be applicable only, for employees undertaking inter-state movement. Staff coming from high viral load states, where Omicron cases have been reported, have also been advised to undergo five-day quarantine apart from producing an RT-PCR negative report before rejoining.

Violations will invite strict action under the Disaster Management Act, 2005, and Section 188 of the IPC against employees as well as the industrial management.

The health staff will begin random sampling in industrial units and further gene sequencing in case some positive cases of the new variant are reported.

The BBN area had emerged as a major hotspot during the earlier Covid waves due to which the administration has urged the units to cooperate in preventing its spread. “Since the new variant is much more contagious, early detection will help prevent its spread. This will also ensure that no industry is closed and no business has to suffer. Industries have already been directed to maintain a vigil on foreign passengers,” said the SDM.

Meanwhile, the administration has kept a 35-bed makeshift hospital with oxygen beds at Nalagarh ready for any eventuality. — TNS