MHA requests states/UTs to screen int’l passengers rigorously

New Delhi, Nov 30, : On Tuesday, the Ministry of Home Affairs asked all States (and Union Territories) to screen international passengers arriving in India.It also extended Covid-19 protocols until December 31.

Samples from travellers who become positive should be sent to designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories, (IGSLs), promptly as per the Indian SARS-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG Guidance Document).The Home Secretary directed all state governments/UTs to ensure that they establish a close collaboration with their designated or tagged IGSLs in order to expedite results of genomic analysis.

They should also immediately take necessary public health actions in the event of Variants of concern/Variants interested (VOCs/Vols), being reported by INSACOG network.In light of the emergence of highly-mutant Covid variant B.1.1529 in a few African countries, the MoHFW issued an advisory on November 25 to all States (UTs) in exercising the powers conferred by section 6(2)(i), Disaster Management Act, 2005 (DM Act).The National Disaster Management Authority, (NDMA) has asked the undersigned to issue an order, to contain Covid-19 in the country.

The MHA order also required the States and UTs that they ensure compliance with the containment measures for Covid-19 until December 31, 2021.Soon after discovering multiple cases of variant B.1.1529 in South Africa, Hong Kong, and Botswana, Rajesh Bhushan, Union Health Secretary, wrote to additional chief secretaries, principal secretaries, or secretaries (Health), of all states and UTs to request that they conduct thorough screening and testing of all international travelers "It is vital that all international travelers travelling from or transiting through these countries, as well as other at-risk nations listed in the revised guidelines to international arrivals, are subject to rigorous screening and testing.In the letter, Bhushan stated that their contacts must be tracked and tested.

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