Amid Omicorn scare, Meghalaya issues new guideline for travellers

After Maharashtra, the state of Meghalaya has revised the state entry protocol for the domestic and international travelers amid the emerging threat from a new Coronavirus variant “Omicron.” Revised protocols were put in action from December 1.

On November 30, six international passengers from “countries at-risk” tested positive for Covid-19 in Maharashtra, following this the state government Tuesday tightened rules for international travelers.

The new regulations of Meghalaya mandate all persons entering Meghalaya enroll in the state testing portal and use the AROGYA SETU app on their cell phones. The state portal is http://meghalayaonline.gov.in/covid/testing.htm. Travelers can also generate e-invite for tourists from the state government portal.

New protocols require submission of a self-declaration form along with a negative RTPCR report from all international tourists, whereas this notification enlists 11 countries as ‘countries at risk’ status and mandates an isolation period of Seven days irrespective of vaccination and RTPCR status. The travelers will be kept in institutional quarantine center under the district surveillance unit.

If the RTPCR detects any positive case the sample would be sent for further genome analysis to determine the variant.

The list of 11 ‘countries at risk’ includes the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, and Israel.

The entry protocol for domestic travelers remains the same as issued last September by the Department of Health and Family Welfare Meghalaya. Local travelers are also advised to maintain physical distances at public places