Earmark separate isolation areas for Omicron-hit: Govt

NEW DELHI: In the wake of the detection of Omicron cases in some states, the Centre has asked their governments to earmark separate isolation areas for all patients infected with the Omicron variant, in designated Covid treatment facilities.

In a letter to states and Union territories, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan asked them to ensure no cross-infection takes place and adequate precautions are taken to prevent Omicron’s transmission to other patients and healthcare workers.

The Centre also stressed the need to regularly review and ensure that samples of Covid-positive international travellers and their contacts as well from people in emerging hotspots are promptly submitted to INSACOG laboratories for genome sequencing, according to protocol. It is imperative that states and UTs follow a mission mode and work with a focused approach in quickly tracking primary and secondary contacts of positive cases and facilitate their testing, Bhushan said. It is critical to track all contacts of such cases and quarantine them, he added.

Community surveillance should be prioritised to follow up positive cases, as well as their contacts, on a daily basis to monitor their clinical status and keep a check on symptoms, the letter said. “International travellers, who have arrived in the community, also need to be monitored by district surveillance teams and their testing on eighth day needs to be ensured if they have come from ‘at-risk’ countries,” it said.

States and UTs have also been advised to undertake increased surveillance for detecting unusual events such as new clusters of Covid-positive cases and breakthrough and reinfection cases. Bhushan suggested states and UTs utilise the ‘eSanjeevani’ telemedicine platform and call centers, and plan home visits by special teams to contact those under home isolation.