In the wake of a new heavily mutated variant of the Coronavirus - Omicron - being reported in the different parts of the world, Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Monday, November 29, said that directions have been issued to the authorities to keep tabs on international passengers arriving in Goa.
He also urged the people of the state to take precautions when it comes to dealing with persons who have newly travelled to Goa.
Speaking to media persons in Mapusa, Sawant said, "We will be keeping tabs on international passengers arriving in Goa. People should also take precautions. Persons coming from outside the state, people should take precautions from them and Goans should take care," he also said.
Sawant further said that he would be holding a meeting to discuss the emerging scenario related to the new variant.
"We have always followed central guidelines. We are conducting a meeting about this tomorrow with Health Department and Secretary. Airport and Railway stations have been alerted," the Chief Minister said.
Meanwhile, Goa Airport director Gagan Malik has informed that passengers coming from risk nations will be subjected to RT-PCR test and if they are found to be positive, they will have to undergo institutional quarantine. "Government has also made it mandatory for all the tested samples to genome sequencing," Malik said.
The development comes after tourist footfalls have increased in Goa and the first chartered flight of the season will land in Goa in December after a lull in the international tourism sector since the Covid-19 outbreak.
Omicron was first reported to the WHO by South African scientists on Wednesday, and has also been identified in Botswana, Belgium, Hong Kong and Israel.