News Analysis India

Tag: Omicron

  • Omicron variant: Government to review decision on restarting international flights, SOP for incoming passengers

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The government on Sunday decided to review the decision on resuming scheduled commercial international passenger services as well SOP on testing and surveillance of incoming passengers, especially from countries identified as ‘at risk’, in the wake of the emergence of the new COVID-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.

    The decisions were taken at an urgent meeting chaired by Union Home Secretary Ajay Bhalla and attended by various stakeholders, an official spokesperson said.

    The meeting was held a day after a high-level review by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the new COVID-19 variant of concern ‘Omicron’.

    ALSO READ: Covid ‘Omicron’ fears – Karnataka government asks Centre to ban passengers from South Africa, Hong Kong, Botswana

    After a long hiatus of more than 20 months, the government had on November 26 announced the resumption of scheduled international commercial flights from December 15.

    The home ministry spokesperson said at the meeting, chaired by the home secretary, the overall global situation in the wake of the Omicron virus was comprehensively reviewed and various preventive measures in place and to be further strengthened were discussed.

    The government will review the decision on the effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passenger services as per evolving global scenario, the spokesperson said.

    ALSO READ: Omicron variant – Returnees from abroad to Madhya Pradesh in last one month to undergo COVID-19 test, says CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan

    The new, potentially more contagious B.1.1.529 variant was first reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) from South Africa on November 24 and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.

    It was on Friday designated as a “Variant of Concern” by the WHO, which named it Omicron.

    A variant of concern is the WHO’s top category of worrying COVID-19 variants.

    EXPLAINER: Is new COVID variant ‘Omicron’ more lethal than Delta? Here’s all you need to know

    “Government to review Standard Operating Procedure on testing and surveillance of incoming international passengers, especially for those countries identified ‘at risk’ category,” the spokesperson said in a series of tweets.

    The government has also decided that the genomic surveillance for variants will be further strengthened and intensified and Airport Health Officials (APHOs) and Port Health Officials (PHOs) will be sensitised for strict supervision of testing protocol at airports and seaports.

    “Decision on effective date of resumption of scheduled commercial international passengers service, to be reviewed, as per evolving global scenario,” the spokesperson said.

    EXPLAINER: What is this new COVID variant in South Africa?

    A closer watch on the emerging pandemic situation within the country will be maintained, the spokesperson said.

    The meeting was held with various experts including V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, Vijay Raghavan, Principal Scientific Adviser to Prime Minister, senior officers from Health, Civil Aviation and other Ministries.

  • Amid Omicron scare ahead of Christmas-New Year season, Goa’s tourism sector adopts ‘wait and watch’ policy

    By PTI

    PANAJI: Ahead of the world-renowned Christmas-New Year celebrations in Goa, the tourism sector in the state is keenly watching the likely impact of a new coronavirus variant that was detected in southern Africa recently and one which the World Health Organisation has christened ‘Omicron’ and labeled a ‘Variant of Concern’, stakeholders said on Sunday.

    They said chartered flights and international services bringing in foreign tourists start arriving by the middle of December, heralding what the sector is expecting to be another fruitful season post a robust one during Diwali as the coastal state became the preferred destination for domestic travelers after the COVID-19 pandemic ebbed.

    “We are waiting and watching. Till now, at least, there is no impact (of Omicron) but we will have to wait and watch all the developments over the next 15 days. If cases go up, then protocols will have to be adhered to even more strictly,” Travel and Tourism Association of Goa president Nilesh Shah told PTI.

    He said lack of precaution has been the primary reason why cases went up in the past, though the country is better equipped to tackle an outbreak now as some 70 per cent of the eligible population has taken at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.

    Explaining the situation with chartered flights expected to arrive in the state, Shah said, “The process of issuing visas has started. The severe COVID-19 wave in Russia is cooling off, the cases in UK are coming down. The Union government has allowed international flights from December 15, and many tourists come here on scheduled flights.”

    Putting up a brave front when asked if there was fear of losing the Christmas and New Year season to a resurgent virus variant, Shah said Goa was a safe destination as 100 per cent of the eligible population has received at least one dose of the vaccine.

    “Moreover, we are not afraid as such. We have to learn to do business with the presence COVID-19 around,” Shah asserted.