Nagaland to track, monitor passengers arriving from UK

Our Correspondent
Kohima, Dec. 28 (EMN): As per the directives of the National Task Force (NTF) on Covid-19 in light of the emergence of a new variant of the virus, the state’s department of Health and Family Welfare has issued strategies to be implemented with immediate effect to detect and contain the mutant virus.

In a press release, Dr. Vizolie Z. Suokhrie, principal director of the department, has informed that passengers who arrived from United Kingdom (UK) after December 20 would be tracked by the IDSP State Surveillance Units (SSUs) and District Surveillance Units (DSUs), and that testing as per ICMR guidelines of these passengers has to be done.

In the process, if such persons are found positive, samples from their cases are to be sent for Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) while enhanced contact tracing of positive cases would be undertaken and subsequently, all these contacts are to be admitted to facility quarantine.

It reminded that patients would be discharged only after ensuring two samples are tested negative after 14 days. Five percent of all positive cases from the state will be sent for WGS.

In view of this, all persons who have arrived in Nagaland, either Indian or foreign nationals, from the UK after December 20 have been informed to report to the respective district task force (DTF) on Covid-19 for mandatory testing.

It further asked those arriving after issuing this circular to self declare at the point of entry, inform the DTF and self isolate for necessary standard testing protocols.