Srinagar, Dec 01: In the wake of new COVID variant Omicron, the Srinagar administration has set up five special quarantine centres in Srinagar for international visitors coming to the Valley.
The centres include the Haj House, Marriage Hall at Santanagar and three hotels in Srinagar.
Additional Deputy Commissioner (ADC) Srinagar, Dr Syed Haneef Balkhi told Rising Kashmir that in wake of the new Omicron variant outbreak, we have set up five special quarantine centres in Srinagar.
"We have selected the Haj house, Marriage Hall at Sanatnagar and three hotels in Srinagar district. All the international visitors will go through the tests and then they have to stay in quarantine centres for 8 hours," he said.
He said in case any traveller tests positive for the COVID-19 or the new virus mutant, they will be shifted to DRDO COVID hospital for special treatment.
The official said that during winters, tourists visit the Valley. So the administration has taken steps to ensure the safety of everyone and put in place the precautionary measures to stop the spread of this variant.
Earlier, the UT administration had made RTPCR test mandatory for all international passengers at Srinagar Airport irrespective of travellers' previous negative report or fully vaccination status.
The decision was taken in a special meeting held here to formulate the strategy for containment measures in Kashmir Division, which was chaired by the Divisional Commissioner (Div Com) Kashmir, Pandurang K Pole.
The step has been taken in view of the spread of the new COVID-19 variant, Omicron, in different countries of the world.
In a statement issued, the officials said, “In view of government advisory, the meeting decided that mandatory RTPCR test of all international passengers should be conducted at Srinagar Airport irrespective of travellers previous negative report or fully vaccination status.
“Besides, it was further decided that if RTPCR report turns negative, the passenger shall be kept under home quarantine for the Ist week and would again be re-tested on 8th day of home quarantine or whenever the traveller develops symptoms of of infection during the course of quarantine. If the report of RTPCR comes negative he/she will self-monitor for one more week at strict home quarantine.”
In view of growing concerns over Omicron, a new variant of COVID-19, the Health Ministry revised its guidelines for international travellers arriving in India with effect from December 1. As per the guidelines, travellers will have to submit 14 days travel details on the online Air Suvidha portal before the scheduled travel along with the self-declaration form. They will also have to upload a negative Covid RT-PCR report and the test should have been conducted within 72 hours before undertaking the journey.