The health department has issued new guidelines on 20/02/2021 – Text of Guidelines
Special surveillance measures for arrivals from Maharashtra into Karnataka with immediate effect:
As per recommendations of the Technical Advisory Committee, the following measures are mandated to be followed:
The number of COVID-19 cases is rising sharply across the entire state of Maharashtra. Mumbai has reported a near-doubling of number of COVID-19 positive cases from around 350 per day to 645 per day within a week.
Amravati, Nagpur, Pune, and other cities in Mumbai are also reporting a significant rise in the number of cases. Over 6000 new cases have been detected A Maharashtra in the past 24 hours 00 19/2/2021 for the first time in several months. In P9111, 91119 positivity rate has almost doubled in a week indicating a significant degree of spread in community once again.
In Nagpur and Amravati, the rise in new cases has been sharp enough for the local administration to reinforce control measures and defer openings of educational institutions. The number of fresh cases has once again started exceeding the number of recovered patients in Nagpur and Vidarbha districts. In Amravati, the number of fresh cases has times. All this clearly indicates that the second wave of COVID-19 has possibly started In earnest In Maharashtra.
In the context of the above, based on the recent SOP recommended for a similar situation arising out of Kerala, the following recommendations are made for the arrivals from Maharashtra:
1. If there are a cluster of 5 or more cases of COVID -19 in hostels, boarding or residential. educational institutions such places shall be declared as ‘containment zones ” by the local health authorities and special surveillance measures initiated. After 7 days of notifying of the containment zone and staff should be re-tested with RT-PCR.
2. Strict enforcement of COVID-19 precautions like compulsory wearing of face masks, physical distancing, use of hand sanitizers, monitoring for symptomatic in hostels, educational institutions are very important, and heads of institutions shall be made responsible for any lapses in this regard.
3. A negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours shall be compulsory for those arriving by flights/ buses/trains/personal transport.
a The negative RT-PCR report shall be verified at the time of boarding by airlines staffs. b. For those travelling by bus, tickets shall be issued on production of negative RT.PCR report or shall be checked by the bus conductor while boarding of those who have booked ticket online, etc. c. In the trains the TTEs shall check the negative RT-PCR test report. d. A random check of the testing reports from the persons arriving at the tollgates or,/point of entry shall be made for those coming by personal
4. All those arriving from Maharashtra and checking into hotels, resorts, hostels, home stays, dormitories, etc. shall compulsorily produce a negative RT.PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours. Owners of the above-mentioned places should ensure that the occupants produce negative RT-PCR certificate.
5. Positive samples (CT cycle leg than 20) shall be of to NIMHANS laboratory for genomic sequencing.
In addition to the above, any potential COVID .19 outbreaks must not recur and affect the existing situation. Therefore, the following public health measures are recommended:
6. Hostels and Colleges:
a Residents should not be allowed to have visitors/relatives without obtaining express permission from the Covid nodal officers. A list of Students travelling to and from Maharashtra from the hostel/college should be maintained by a competent authority. The students shall compulsorily produce RT PCR negative test reports, not older than 72 hours; each time they return from Maharashtra and till the situation improves.
b. Strictly no visitors are allowed to enter hostel premises for any purpose. Only urgent/necessary needs for taking things from the room are allowed; students should be in separate rooms to maintain adequate physical distance and avoid crowding. d. Any potential for super spreading avenues (such as crowding in dining areas, waiting for halls, reading rooms, indoor playing areas, gymnasium etc.)should be prevented inside the hostel and colleges/schools. The meal timing should be staggered to ensure that there is no crowding in the dining area.
a. An exemption is given only to those who have a valid RT PCR negative test report not older than 72 hours.
b. Anyone who does not comply with this shall immediately be reported to the nodal person/authorities and made to strictly stay in the designated “quarantine room “in the facility till RT-PCR test report is negative.
c. All the students in medical/engineering or other professional colleges who have arrived from Maharashtra should be tested for RT PCR.
d. Nursing and Paramedical college students to be tested once. 8. Stricter compliance of the COVID-19 appropriate behaviors in all the colleges should be ensured by the college and university administration. There shall be a nodal person in the hostel and the classes to monitor the students’ health condition and others, more so of those from Maharashtra for COVID -19 symptoms, etc. and ensure compliance to COVID -19 precautions / appropriate behaviors. 9. The students from Maharashtra who reside in the hostels shall avoid frequently travelling to their native place unless it is strongly Justified. Such students returning from Maharashtra shall bring a negative RT-PCR test report that is not more than 72 hours old.
10. Even short term travelers between Maharashtra and Karnataka shall produce a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours.
This negative report shall be valid for period of 7 days. Besides, they shall self monitor their health for fourteen days and in case of respiratory symptoms like fever, cough, cold, sore throat, breathing difficulty, etc. and shall seek immediate medical consultation and undergo COVID -19 testing.
11. The employees from Maharashtra working in multinational companies, Hotels, resorts, Lodges, Home stays in Karnataka, should get the RT PCR test done at their own cost.
12. The relevant SoP of COVID -19 of GoK/University / National regulatory authorities like UGC, NMC, AICTE, etc. for higher educational institutions shall be strictly complied with. Any failure to do so, the head of the institution shall be held responsible under the “Epidemic Diseases Act”.
13.1t is recommend to ramp up testing and strengthen the COVID-19 surveillance activities in all the colleges, residential facilities which have accommodated the students and others from Maharashtra.
14. The guidelines for the ensuring prevention of COVID-19 outbreaks in colleges will apply to hotels, resorts, apartments, and all residential facilities in Bengaluru. The authorities for these facilities should ensure a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours and valid for 7 days is produced by any person travelling from Maharashtra. 15. The outbreaks in any of these places occur only when the SoPs are not well implemented. The accountability for implementing the SoPs and outbreak response will be the responsibility of the Heads of the institutions.
16. The health authorities shall monitor the colleges/schools for compliance to COVID-19 appropriate behavior and testing at regular intervals. All the returnees from Maharashtra shall produce negative RT PCR certificate, which is not older than 72 hrs. District Authorities may take suitable preventive measures as and when necessary with intimation to State.