ANANTAPUR: The district administration has sounded a public alert to guard against possible arrival of primary and secondary contacts of the Omicron strain from nearby Karnataka capital Bengaluru.
The medical and health department was directed to collect at least 5,000 samples randomly every day, by concentrating more on people arriving from abroad, alighting at the international airport in Bengaluru, and doing their onward journey to Anantapur.
R&B minister Shankar Narayana held a review meeting with district officials to initiate steps to check the spread of the new Covid variant. A few cases have been reported from Bengaluru city that also included three Anantapur-bound travellers from abroad. “Anantapur district is situated close to Bengaluru and hence the need for special alert,” the minister said.
"The administration should keep a regular watch on such arrivals along with checking the primary and secondary contacts if and when any positive case is reported," the minister advised the medical, police, revenue and tourism departments.
He said there were lesser numbers of positive cases for the past few months also as the Covid tests were conducted in lesser numbers. “There is a need to increase the tests to prevent spread of the new variant in the district, he said.
He also asked the health department to conduct a fever survey in all areas.
Collector Nagalakshmi said a review would be done on the preparedness of oxygen plants, Covid care centres in the district and snags, if any, rectified soon. Joint collector Siri, GGH superintendent Dr. Jagannath, DM&HO Dr. K Prasad and other officials were present.
