KEY STORY
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Amid concern over the new variant of coronavirus and with the state government looking to ramp up vaccination drive, Karnataka’s Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) has recommended restricting access to public facilities and government benefits, such as ration and pension, for the unvaccinated residents.
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On Tuesday, TAC met Minister for Health and Medical Education K Sudhakar. The committee suggested only fully vaccinated adults should be allowed to use public facilities such as public transport, metro trains, hotels, shopping complexes and malls, cinemas and auditorium, swimming pools, gardens and parks, libraries, factories and exhibitions.
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The TAC report further added that only fully vaccinated residents should be allowed to draw benefits from the government such as rations through the Public Distribution System, electricity, water supply, domestic gas cylinder, and petrol/diesel at bunks.
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Apart from this, salaries to government employees, pension, and awarding of contracts should also be done only for those who have been inoculated with both jabs of the Covid-19 vaccine, the TAC report stated.
MANDATORY TESTING FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS
Health Minister K Sudhakar said that about 2,500 international passengers arrive in Karnataka every day and it is now mandatory for everyone to undergo RT-PCR testing.
“Mandatory RT-PCR test is being carried out for travelers from countries where the new virus is found. The Chief Minister has instructed us to test travelers from all countries,” K Sudhakar said after meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee.
The health minister added that those who test negative for the virus will be home quarantined for seven days, while those who are symptomatic and negative will have to undergo testing at home on the fifth day.
Those who are asymptomatic will be tested on the seventh day. If positive, they will be immediately hospitalized and treated separately, K Sudhakar said.
“At the meeting, ways to effectively deal with the Omicron virus, how to control it and what preparations are to be taken in hospitals and medical colleges were also discussed,” K Sudhakar said.
Using technology such as Quarantine App, Tele Medicine are also being considered and a panel of 10 experts has been set up to formulate separate guidelines for treatment, K Sudhakar added.
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