India To Test Passengers From 12 Countries For New COVID-19 Variant 'Omicron'

New Delhi: Amid rising concern about a new COVID-19 variant 'Omicron' which was first detected in in South Africa, India has added several countries to the list from where travellers entering India would require to follow additional measures.

These travellers would need to get themselves tested after their arrival in the country for the infection.

Ministry of Health and Family includes Hong Kong and Israel to the said list from where travellers need to follow additional measures on arrival in India.

The other countries which are included in the list are South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Israel, Hong Kong, European nations, and the UK.

Earlier, Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan, in a letter to health secretaries of all states and Union Territories, said: "lt has now been reported by National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that multiple cases of a COVID-19 variant B.1.1.529 (named as Omicron) have been reported in Botswana (3 cases), South Africa (6 cases) and Hong Kong (1 case).

Reportedly, this variant has a significantly high number of mutations.

According Russian news agency Sputnik, the Switzerland has also joined the group of countries which announced the suspension of travel from southern Africa over the spread of the new Omicron coronavirus variant.

However, the United Kingdom was the first to halt flights from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Lesotho and Eswatini.

Several other countries including the United States, the Philippines, Spain, Israel, Austria, Morocco have imposed travel restrictions from Africa.

Besides, Canada has also banned the entry of foreign nationals who have travelled to the southern Africa region over the last 14 days.

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