Karnataka ups its guard against possible new variant, to screen International passengers at B’luru airport

India

oi-Madhuri Adnal

Bengaluru,
Dec
21:
Amid
a
sudden
spurt
in
Covid-19
cases
in
Japan,
South
Korea,
Brazil,
China
and
the
US,
Karnataka
has
announced
stricter
regulations
in
the
state
once
again.

Addressing
the
media,
Health
Minister
K
Sudhakar
on
Wednesday
said
that
the
Karnataka
government
will
start
screening
international
passengers
at
Bengaluru
airport.
He,
however,
did
not
specify
from
which
date
the
screening
process
will
begin
at
the
Kempegowda
International
Airport
(KIA)
here.
“We
will
have
to
take
certain
precautionary
measures
in
the
wake
of
global
situation.
KIA
has
a
high
inflow
of
international
passengers.
We
will
start
screening
passengers
there,”
Sudhakar
said.

The
Minister
emphasised
the
need
for
people
to
take
precaution
dose
of
COVID-19
vaccine
amid
a
surge
in
COVID-19
cases
in
some
parts
of
the
world,
especially
in
China.
He
said
new
COVID-19
guidelines
would
be
issued.
The
state
government
has
taken
measures
to
send
positive
samples
for
genome
sequencing
to
keep
track
of
emerging
variants,
as
per
Union
Health
Ministry’s
guidelines.
“Some
countries
including
China
and
Japan
are
witnessing
a
sudden
spurt
in
cases.
China
is
witnessing
more
hospitalisation.
Therefore,
we
need
to
focus
on
booster
(precaution)
dose
coverage,”
Sudhakar
told
reporters
here.

Concerning,
but
chance
of
rise
in
cases
in
India
unlikely:
Experts
on
China’s
Covid
surge

“A
high
level
meeting
will
be
chaired
by
Chief
Minister
Basavaraj
Bommai
to
discuss
next
course
of
action,”
he
added.
The
state
has
achieved
100
per
cent
double
dose
COVID-19
vaccination,
but
a
lot
of
people
are
yet
to
take
precaution
jab.
”All
those
who
are
yet
to
get
their
booster
(precaution)
shots
should
voluntarily
come
forward
and
get
it,” Sudhakar
said
in
an
appeal
to
people.
“We
are
prepared
to
face
any
kind
of
situation.
We
will
take
all
necessary
precautions
and
new
guidelines
will
be
released
in
this
regard,”
he
added.

Meanwhile,
Union
Health
Minister
Dr.
Mansukh
Mandaviya
chaired
a
high-level
meeting
to
review
the
COVID-19
situation
in
India
and
the
preparedness
of
the
public
health
system
for
surveillance,
containment,
and
management
of
COVID-19
in
view
of
the
recent
spike
in
cases
of
COVID-19
in
some
countries.

Underlining
the
challenge
posed
by
the
increasing
number
of
COVID-19
cases
in
some
countries
across
the
world
such
as
China,
Japan,
South
Korea,
France
and
United
States,
Union
Health
Minister
noted
the
importance
of
being
prepared
and
remaining
alert
against
new
and
emerging
strains
of
COVID-19,
especially
in
view
of
the
upcoming
festive
season.

Wear
masks
in
crowded
places,
government
advises
as
Covid
cases
spike
in
China

Underlying
and
reiterating
that
COVID
is
not
over
yet,
he
directed
the
officials
to
be
fully
geared
up
and
strengthen
surveillance.
He
urged
people
to
follow
COVID
appropriate
behaviour
and
get
vaccinated
against
COVID.