No cases of Omicron infection has been detected in State Capital till date. In order to trace the passengers who arrived from abroad, the Health Department has handed over a list of 15 passengers to police here on Friday.

As per the list made available, a total of 111 passengers had returned to State Capital from abroad, out of which 96 were traced.

Dr Meera Baghel, the Chief Medical and Health Officer (CMHO) informed that all the 96 passengers who returned from overseas are under home quarantine for seven days. They are being monitored as per the schedule and they have been tested negative.

On 8th day again, RT-PCR test will be done and if found positive the samples will be sent for genome sequencing and patient will be kept under isolation in government hospitals.

Dr Subhash Mishra, the Director Epidemic and spokesperson of state COVID Control informed that as per guidelines before boarding international flights the passengers are asked to produce RT-PCR negative report done within 78 hours of journey at Airport. After arriving in India, RT-PCR test is done at airport and after 6 hours, report is generated and only passengers with negative report are allowed to further travel in the country. In case of positive report, the passenger will be taken into isolation in hospital. Random checking of 5 per cent passengers is done at International Airport by the team of Health Department. He further informed that the new variant of COVID ‘Omicron’ shows similar symptoms as of COVID, it has same treatment protocol and same vaccines will be used for treatment of patients. He said one should stick to COVID appropriate behaviour and continue use of face mask in public places, hand sanitisers, avoid movement in public places and maintain social distancing to get prevented by the COVID new variant.

It was observed that at Raipur Railway station passengers were not following the COVID appropriate behaviour.

Many passengers were traced without mask in crowded platform on which they were not fined or corrected by the railway administration which is gross violation and also negligence on part of both the passengers and Railway.