RT-PCR test, 7-day quarantine mandatory for international travellers Srinagar International Airport

Jammu, December 3

Amid fear of the new Covid variant (Omicron), Jammu & Kashmir government on Friday issued fresh guidelines making rigorous screening and Covid-19 RT-PCR test mandatory for foreign travellers at the Srinagar International Airport.

The new directive stipulated that incoming travellers from ‘at risk’ nations will have to undergo home quarantine even if they test negative, officials said.

The decision was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Secretary A K Mehta, held to review the situation in the backdrop of the highly mutated Omicron variant.

Most of the Covid-19 containment guidelines in action will be retained, including imposing of night curfew in view of the uneven trend observed in the daily cases, the new guidelines said.

Additional measures have been issued by the State Executive Committee (SEC) in regard to the international arrivals in Jammu & Kashmir.

“Rigorous screening and conduct of Covid-19 RT-PCR test will be made mandatory at the Srinagar International Airport for international arrivals as per the guidelines issued from time to time,” order said. The samples of positive cases will be sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) promptly.

There will be a close tracking and testing of the contacts of travellers who have tested positive, the order said.

It also directed the designated surveillance officers (DSOs) to establish a close coordination with their designated and tagged INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) for expediting results of genomic analysis. — PTI

New guidelines amid Omicron threat

• Rigorous screening and RT-PCR test to be conducted for foreign travellers at Srinagar International Airport
• People from ‘at risk’ nations who test negative will also undergo home quarantine for seven days
• Night curfew likely to be imposed in the wake of spike in daily cases across the Union Territory of J&K