Odisha makes 14-day home quarantine mandatory for persons with UK travel history

Bhubaneswar: As the mutant variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus has been spreading fast in the United Kingdom, the Odisha government made 14-day home quarantine mandatory for persons with travel history of the UK upon arrival at the airports of the State.

In view of the emerging situation, passengers with travel history of the UK and transiting through the airports in the UK within last 14 days will be required to fill up the Self Declaration Form upon arrival at the two airports of the State, mentioned a letter written by Additional Chief Secretary of Health and Family Welfare Department, PK Mohapatra.

The letter further added the passengers with travel history to the UK will be advised to remain in mandatory 14 days home quarantine with self monitoring and periodic monitoring by the Rapid Response Team.

The letter written yesterday to The Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation Commissioner, the Director of Capital Hospital, Bhubaneswar, the Jharsuguda Collector, the CDM & PHO of Jharsuguda, the Directors of Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda airports further asked them to mandatorily screen the persons with travel history of the UK and take necessary follow up action to prevent the spread of the new variant of SARS-CoV-2 in the State.

“If any such person is found symptomatic within the quarantine period, RT-PCR test will be conducted. If he/she is tested positive, he/she will be isolated in an institutional isolation facility and advised for treatment as per the protocol,” the letter read.

Even if a person with travel history of the UK is tested negative, he/she will be advised to complete the 14 days home quarantine period, the letter mentioned.