Omicron scare: Five who arrived in Bengaluru from South Africa are ‘missing’

Five trippers from South Africa, who arrived in Bengaluru between November 28 and December 1, are “ missing” – which means authorities are doubtful of their whereabouts. 

 The BBMP is tracking all advents from countries categorised as‘at threat’in the wake of the trouble posed by Omicron, the new SARS-CoV2 variant of concern, over the once three weeks. Especial focus is on trippers from South Africa as the country’s first Omicron infection was recorded in a rubberneck from the African nation and was verified on Thursday. 

 Since December 1, all trippers from South Africa and several other‘at threat’ nations must mandatorily suffer an RT-PCR test on appearance at the harborage of entry. Still, health authorities are tracking trippers who arrived at KIA from South Africa over the once three weeks. 

 After the presence of Omicron was reported in the megacity, the state government held a series of meetings on Friday to bandy measures to control the spread of the contagion. During one meeting, health and family weal minister K Sudhakar claimed 10 cases were missing. “ The government has told me to take stern action against transnational trippers who don’t cooperate with us,” Sudhakar said. 

 Still, BBMP officers latterly clarified that only five were missing. Civic agency data shows that over the once three weeks, 72 people arrived in Bengaluru from South Africa. While 43 of them handed domestic addresses in Bengaluru, the other 29 gave addresses outside the megacity. 

 Four headed out of Bengaluru to other metropolitan metropolises. BBMP officers said that they’ve advised external pots of the metropolises about these trippers. 

 “ Between November 28 and December 1, 23 people arrived from South Africa,” a elderly BBMP health functionary said. “ Eighteen have been tracked and tested and plant negative, while five are still missing.” Asked why there was a detention in tracking trippers, KV Trilok Chandra, special manager, health, BBMP, said, “ Numerous have handed transnational mobile figures making it veritably delicate to reach out to them. Numerous others have switched off their phones. Those who have been traced are spread across BTM Layout, Mahadevapura and Jayanagar among other points, but all of them are in strict home insulation.” 

 BBMP is covering the health condition of all these people and have also traced their primary and secondary connections. “ We’re doing everything to control the spread of Omicron in the megacity,” Chandra told TOI.