AP to trace, test, quarantine UK returnees
After reports of a new strain of COVID-19 surfacing in the United Kingdom, the Andhra Pradesh government, on 22 December, issued an order stating that all travellers from the UK will be screened and tested.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 22 Dec 2020 2:36 PM GMT
Hyderabad: After reports of a new strain of COVID-19 surfacing in the United Kingdom, the Andhra Pradesh government, on 22 December, issued an order stating that all travellers from the UK will be screened and tested.
It said that those who test negative will have to observe a 14-day mandatory home quarantine. These norms shall apply to passengers entering Andhra Pradesh and who are travelling directly from the UK, through connecting flights, and those who entered the country through any other means of transport.
During a review meeting held on Tuesday, Bhaskar Katamneni, the commissioner of health and family welfare, said, "We have issued orders to collectors and SP's to track those who are coming to the state from abroad and take these preventive measures."
Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy has, meanwhile, asked officials to be cautious and do the needful to ensure that the new strain does not impact the citizens.
To enforce the new COVID-19 order, the state has said a clear mandate and action plan should be given to surveillance teams to monitoring of those who have tested negative in the RT-PCR test and are under home isolation. The teams should ensure their proper isolation, monitoring of parameters, and ensure follow up RT-PCR test after seven days of disembarkation.
The surveillance team comprising a medical officer and an ANM will daily visit the international travellers and update their vitals in the home quarantine app. In case any such persons develop symptoms before seven days, they must be shifted to hospitals and tested for RT-PCR immediately, the state said.
The AP government's 3T's strategy - trace, test, and treat – has so far managed to contain the virus in most regions of the state. The mortality rate in the state stands at 0.81 per cent with 3,992 cases still active as on 21 December out of the total 8,78,937 cases that have been detected so far. The state has conducted 2,11,631 tests per million placing AP at the top of the testing charts.
