MAPUSA
Gearing up to tackle the new variant of Coronavirus, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant, on Tuesday, said that testing for Covid will be compulsory to all international passengers landing at the Dabolim airport and MPT port.Sawant also said that people coming from the 12 at-risk countries will have to undergo seven days quarantine.
“Every international passenger that arrives to Goa at the airport and the MPT will have to undergo compulsory testing. People arriving from the 12 at-risk countries will be isolated and others will have to undergo self-isolation and strictly monitored,” Sawant said, after attending a high-level meeting with the officials of the health department, GMC, airport and MPT on steps to be taken vis-Ã -vis the new Covid variant.
Apart from all countries in Europe, including the UK, there are 11 other countries “ South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel “ listed as “at-risk” by the Centre, where the new Coronavirus variant has been detected.
The CM informed that the State government will strictly adopt and follow the Central guidelines with regard to the 12 “at-risk” countries.
He also advised all the people of Goa to take precautions against the virus.
“From our side what precautions have to be taken to tackle the new virus will be taken by the government,” Sawant said.
He said no new decision has been taken on schools but the physical classes for class VII and VIII will continue as scheduled.
He also said the State government was waiting for the direction from the Government of India on charter flights. “In the old circular permission was given to charter flights. But in the new circular which has been released today nothing is mentioned on it. GoI will finalise the decision on charter flights by tomorrow,” he said.
