Standard operating procedures for epidemiological surveillance and response are in the context of a new strain in the UK, the Union Health Ministry said in a statement.
When publishing the SOP, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) said that the European Center for Disease Control (ECDC) estimates that this new variant of the virus is more communicable and affects the younger population.
Under the guidelines, the government has mandated that all international travelers must report travel history for the past 14 days and complete the self-declaration form to be screened for COVID-19.
States are ordered to obtain a list of returnees.
“UK passengers traveling from December 21-23 will undergo an RT-PCR test upon arrival and passengers who test positive will be isolated in a state-designated institutional isolation facility. In addition, samples will be taken they will collect and send for genomic sequencing, “said directed.
Positive cases will allocate specific facilities for said isolation and treatment. The action required to send the samples to the National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune or any other appropriate laboratory for genomic sequencing will begin at the facility level:
to. If the sequencing report is consistent with the current genome of the SARS-CoV-2 virus circulating in the country; Ongoing treatment protocol, including facility-level isolation / home treatment, can be followed depending on the severity of the case.
second. If genomic sequencing indicates the presence of a new SARS-CoV-2 variant, the patient will remain in a separate isolation unit. Although the necessary treatment will be administered according to the existing protocol, the patient will be tested on day 14, after having tested positive in the initial test. If the sample tests positive on day 14, more sample can be taken until your two consecutive samples taken 24 hours apart are negative.
Also, those who test negative with RT-PCR at the airport will be advised to self-quarantine at home.
Interested airlines will ensure that this SOP is explained to the traveler prior to check-in. In-flight announcements should also be made explaining relevant information to passengers. Relevant information in this regard will be prominently displayed in the arrivals area and in the waiting area of airports, the ministry said.
At airports, together with the airport authorities, suitable arrangements can also be made for passengers awaiting RT-PCR test results duly after effective isolation.
In addition, the list of travelers (traveling between December 21 and 23) who test negative for RT-PCR in airport tests will be shared with the respective States by the IDSP central unit (provided by APHO / BOI). They will be advised to quarantine them at home and will be tested according to ICMR guidelines. the ministry further stated.
International travelers from the UK who arrived in India from November 25 to December 8, which is the first and second week of November 25, will be contacted by district surveillance officers and advised to monitor their health. If any of them show symptoms, they will be tested by RT PCR.
a) If the test is positive, genetic sequencing will be performed. If the results are consistent with the currently circulating SARS-CoV2, the ongoing treatment protocol can be followed, including isolation / home treatment at the center level depending on the severity of the case.
If the results of genomic sequencing are consistent with the new variant, these passengers will continue to remain in a separate isolation unit.
The list of international travelers who arrived in India, as described in the scope above, between December 9 and December 23 (third and fourth week) will be shared with the respective state / district surveillance officers for follow-up. daily until 14 days after arrival. in India, the ministry further stated.
All community contacts (without exception) of those travelers who have tested positive will undergo institutional quarantine in separate quarantine centers and will be tested between day 5 and 10 according to current ICMR guidelines using RT -PCR. The same procedure will be followed for Covid-19 and the new variant of Covid-19 as indicated above.
Information about any passenger covered within the scope of this SOP, who travels to another State, will be immediately notified to the Health Authority of the corresponding State. “If any passenger is not traceable initially or during any follow-up period, they must be immediately notified to the IDSP Central Surveillance Unit by the District Surveillance Officer,” the Ministry of Health indicated.
India imposed a temporary ban on flights from the United Kingdom on Monday amid fears of a new Covid-19 strain emerging.
Countries around the world have started banning flights and travelers from Britain, as London said on Sunday that the spread of a new, more infectious strain of coronavirus was now “out of control.”
France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Ireland and Bulgaria announced travel restrictions to the UK, hours after British Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced that Christmas shopping and gatherings in southern England should be canceled due to the rapid spread of infections attributed to the new variant of coronavirus.
.
