Omicron variant: Search on for 30 ‘missing’ foreign returnees in Andhra Pradesh

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Andhra Pradesh administration is searching for 30 of the 60 foreign returnees for conducting RT-PCR tests to rule out Omicron, the new variant of novel coronavirus. Around 60 international passengers, including nine from Africa, who landed at various airports came to Visakhapatnam in the last 10 days. While 30 of them are staying in Visakhapatnam, the remaining 30 have left for various places in the state. Some of them are allegedly not responding to telephone calls and officials fear they are ‘missing’.

The Visakhapatnam district administration has alerted the collectors of other districts in the state to trace the 30 foreign returnees who left the port city in the last 10 days. Three passengers from South Africa and six from Botswana came to the city and officials have traced six of them. The remaining three — two from Botswana and one from South Africa — have reportedly left for their respective villages in Krishna district. Search is on to trace them.

The state is on a high alert in view of the Omicron threat. It has intensified screening of passengers at airports. While tracing the contact details of the foreign returnees who arrived in the port city in the last 10 days, officials noticed that nine people had come from Africa. Many of them did not land directly in Visakhapatnam. They came here after alighting at various international airports, where they may have undergone RT-PCR tests for Covid-19. But the district administration wants to be doubly sure by conducting another RT-PCR test to rule out any Omicron cases among the returnees.

Visakhapatnam district joint collector Arun Babu told TOI that no foreigner has tested positive so far.