The government of Assam has recently issued a new SOP that includes mandatory RT-PCR test on arrival for travelers coming from abroad, after the recent news of increasing cases of Omicron variant of COVID-19 in the country.

The novel SOP includes a compulsory 7-day home quarantine for those who test negative for coronavirus infection.

Assam Health Minister, Keshab Mahanta mentioned that the new SOP has been formed based on the protocol for international travelers set by the Centre.

Reportedly, around 17 cases of the new Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been detected recently in India. Of which seven in Maharashtra's Pune district, nine in Jaipur capital of Rajasthan, and a fully vaccinated 37-year-old man who arrived in Delhi from Tanzania were detected. Currently, the tally stands at 21 in the country.

Most of the people who tested positive are those who have recently returned from African countries or have been in contact with such people. Four states and the national capital have reported the new, more contagious variant cases, which has set an additional alert across the world.

Recently, the first two cases of the new variant were reported in Karnataka, while a 33-year-old man from Maharashtra's Thane and a 72-year-old NRI from Gujarat tested positive for the new strain. Imperative to note that both these patients were fully vaccinated.

Mahanta further stated that all international travelers would have to undertake the COVID-19 RT-PCR test on arrival compulsorily. Although, children below the age of five years will be exempted.

Still, if any symptoms for COVID-19 are found in children below the age of five years, then a test will be conducted.

Furthermore, if any traveler is found positive for the COVID-19 Omicron variant they will be mandated to follow regulations set by the state government for treating such patients, and their samples will also be sent to laboratories for genome sequencing for finding out the COVID variant.

Source Credit - https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/assam-govt-issues-fresh-sop-as-omicron-variant-cases-increase-in-country-121120500952_1.html