9 passengers from 'at-risk' countries test positive for COVID-19 at Hyd airport on Friday
The Telangana director of public health on Friday said that total 13 passengers who travelled from 'at-risk' countries have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here.
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 Dec 2021 2:56 PM GMT
Hyderabad: Nine passengers at Hyderabad Airport who traveled from 'at-risk countries have tested positive for COVID-19 on Friday. The Telangana director of public health on Friday said total 13 passengers who traveled from 'at-risk countries have tested positive for COVID-19 at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport here. All the new samples have been sent for genome testing. All those who tested positive are under isolation at TIMS in Gachibowli.
So far, no Omicron cases have been detected in Telangana.
On Thursday, a 35-year-old woman traveling from the United Kingdom to Hyderabad had tested positive for COVID-19 at RGIA. The woman has been isolated at TIMS, Gachibowli, and her sample has been sent for genome sequencing. The woman does not have any symptoms.
Meanwhile, two Omicron cases have been reported in the country. Both were detected in Karnataka. The Union health ministry said all their contacts have been identified and are being monitored. All those who tested positive for Omicron have only mild symptoms, it said.
Mandatory RT-PCR tests
Passengers arriving from 12 'at-risk' countries which have reported the Omicron variant of COVID-19 now have to undergo RT-PCR tests at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad. This is in addition to pre-departure COVID-19 testing undertaken 72 hours before their departure. The health department started implementing the new guidelines for international arrivals issued by the ministry of health and family welfare (MOHFW) from midnight of 30 November.
The 12 at-risk countries include all countries in Europe, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong, and Israel.
As per the ministry's guidelines, the passengers have to stay at the airport till their reports are out. In case a person tests positive, s/he will have to undergo 14-days isolation at TIMS, Gachibowli. The positive samples will be sent to the laboratories in CCMB, CDFD, and Gandhi Hospital to identify the variant. Those who test negative will be asked to undergo home quarantine.
