Omicron Variant: DGHS issued guidelines

Desk Report: Omicron variant of the coronavirus popping up in several countries across the world, the health authorities in Bangladesh has issued a set of directives to prevent the variant. Dubbed a “variant of concern” by the World Health Organization last week, Omicron is potentially more contagious than the previous variants.

The World Health Organization has already warned about this variant. Several countries including the UK have barred travel to and from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana and Lesotho.

The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid-19 also recommended a travel ban on countries that have confirmed the presence of Omicron variant.

The 15-point directive issued by the DGHS are: 

Ensuring proper screening of passengers arriving from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Estonia, Lesotho and other countries, where Omicron has been detected;

Discouraging all kinds of social, political, religious and other gatherings;

Wearing masks properly at outdoors;

Dine-in facility in restaurants at half their capacities;>Tourist spots, recreation centres, resorts, community centres, cinema/theatre halls and other programmes including marriage, birthday, picnic and party, should operate at 50% of their capacities or less;

Health safety rules should be maintained at mosques and other places of worship;

Proper hygiene rules must be followed on public transports;

Mandatory 14-day quarantine for passengers coming from infected countries;

Health rules should be followed at all educational institutions;

Healthcare workers and receivers must wear masks at all sorts of medical centres and maintain hygiene rules;

Vaccination campaigns should be conducted in compliance with healthcare guidelines;

Those with Covid symptoms and the people who came in contact with them have to be isolated and quarantined respectively;

Coordinating with local authorities to isolate suspected Covid-19 patients showing symptoms and test their samples;

Masks should be worn by employees at all public and private offices and hygiene rules should be followed while carrying out official tasks;

To raise awareness for wearing masks and following healthcare guidelines, using loudspeakers for promotion.