Mandatory 7 day quarantine in Karnataka for those coming from U.K., Denmark & Netherlands
Bengaluru, Dec 21: With a new variant of coronavirus emerging in the U.K., the Karnataka government on Monday mandated a seven day quarantine for travellers arriving in the state from that country, Denmark and the Netherlands.
Health Minister K Sudhakar said that those who arrived in the state from these countries during the last 14 days would be traced in the next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test.
The Minister held a meeting on Monday with the Technical Advisory Committee of Health and Family Welfare Department to discuss steps in this regard.
Sudhakar, in a tweet, said initial studies in the U.K suggested that the virus may be more contagious than the present one, but not more virulent.
Pointing out that the Centre has suspended flights originating from the U.K. from Wednesday till December 31, he said the state government, as a precautionary measure, has mandated seven day home quarantine for travellers from the U.K, Denmark and Netherlands.
"Travellers who have arrived in the state from these three countries in the last 14 days will be traced within the next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test.
While there is no need to panic,I urge people to continue to follow all precautionary measures and stay safe," he said in another tweet.
The Minister said that on Monday, 291 people arrived in the state by a British Airways flight and 246 by Air India.
Of them 138 had not submitted negative test reports, his office said in a statement.
"We will trace them and do RT-PCR test on them," he said.
Sudhakar further said that kiosks would be opened at airports to screen international travellers.
Strict action would be taken against owners of hotels, resorts and pubs who violate government guidelines for Christmas and New Year celebrations, the minister warned, as he ruled out a lockdown for now.
In the wake of emergence of new variant of corona virus in the UK, held a meeting with Technical Advisory Committee of Health and Family Welfare Department. Initial studies in the UK suggest that the virus may be more contagious than the present one but not more virulent. (1/3)
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) December 21, 2020
In order to contain the spread of new variant of virus, centre has suspended flights originating from the UK from Tuesday midnight till 31st December. As a precautionary measure state govt has mandated 7 day home quarantine for travellers from UK, Denmark and Netherlands. (2/3)
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) December 21, 2020
Travellers who have arrived in the state from these three countries in the last 14 days will be traced within next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test. While there is no need to panic I urge people to continue to follow all precautionary measures and stay safe. (3/3) @DHFWKA
— Dr Sudhakar K (@mla_sudhakar) December 21, 2020
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Crossing river, trekking hill voters reach polling booths to cast vote in Surguja LS constituency
Balrampur/Chhattisgarh (PTI): Enthusiastic voters reached polling booths trekking steep hilly paths, crossing a river and even on a horse to cast their votes in remote areas of the tribal-dominated Balrampur district in Chhattisgarh on Tuesday, officials said.
Balrampur district falls under the Surguja Lok Sabha constituency which was among seven seats where polling was held in third and last phase of Lok Sabha elections in the state. The Surguja Lok Sabha recorded 74.59 per cent voting, as per the Turnout application.
Voters, belonging to Pahadi Korva, a particularly vulnerable tribal group, including Rajesh, Madan, Sukhu, Gopal and Nandlal, crossed a river to exercise their franchise at a polling booth in village panchayat Amera under the Samri assembly constituency, a government official said.
Similarly, electors, including Lakhan Nagesia, Sahu, Phulsai and Kalesh of Bachwar village under the Ramanujganj assembly constituency walked through hilly terrain for about two hours covering 8 kms to reach a polling booth and cast their vote, he said. A voter, Parimal Dey, reached a polling booth in Sagarpur village under the Ramanujganj assembly seat on a horse, the official said. Dey is a cattle rearer who owns 150 goats.
Two hyper sensitive polling booths -- Chunchuna and Pundag -- located in a Naxal-affected area of the district which shares border with Jharkhand, also recorded significant turnout, he said. The two booths are located in the Samri assembly constituency.
"Special security arrangements were put in place in this area to ensure peaceful voting. Voters of Chunchuna and Pudang ensured their participation in the great festival of democracy braving Naxalite threat," he said. The Chunchuna polling booth has 767 voters and it recorded 84.35 per cent turnout, while Pundag has 595 electors and it registered a turnout of 72.44 per cent till 5 pm, the official added.
