Agartala: The Tripura government on Saturday announced that strict Covid protocol will be reinforced across the state from January 1 next year, given the warning about the fresh spread of Coronavirus variant Omicron in the country and subsequent instruction of the central government to the states.
Government spokesperson Sushanta Chowdhury said after several rounds of review of the Covid situation, it has been decided to impose strict restrictions. The state government also took into view
the Centre’s directive asking the states to ramp up surveillance amidst threats of Omicron.
“The habit of wearing face-mask, keeping mandatory hand wash in public spaces, crowd management and physical distancing – all of these have been reduced drastically in last six months after Tripura fought well in the second wave of Covid-19.
“Although these habits are prudent not only to fight against Coronavirus, they are also important for personal hygiene and good health and behavioral practices. We want to reinforce vigorously the norms from New Year,” Chowdhury stated.
No cases of omicron have been detected in the state so far, and infection rate and Covid positive cases are also very low. However, the administration was working on war-footings to fight against any eventuality and by February it will install a machine for Whole Genome Sequencing to detect Omicron or any other variant of the Covid family, At present, such sequencing is carried out in National Institute of Biological and Molecular Studies in West Bengal.
Chowdhury informed as many as 69 persons came from foreign countries over the last three weeks. Samples were taken from 33 of them. 31 persons came negative and results of the rest two are pending.
“Over 97 percent of the eligible population has been given the first dose of vaccine and 82 percent among them have got the second dose too so far in the state. However, the government has been working on mission mode to complete double dose vaccinations for the entire eligible population at
the earliest,” he added.
