Omicron Threat: Karnataka To Focus On Cluster Management, Issue Fresh Guidelines To Hostels

Covid-19 clusters have cropped up at educational institutions and hostels in several regions including Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru among others

New Delhi: With new Covid-19 clusters emerging and looming Omicron threat, the Karnataka government will focus on cluster management and issue fresh guidelines to hostels with an aim to contain the infection.

Is the current Covid-19 situation worrying in the state?

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai aasuaged concerns saying there is not much to worry. "Regarding Covid, our Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) head Dr M K Sudarshan has informed about the current situation, he has shared details about the Omicron variant. According to him, looking at the current figures and the positivity rate, there is no need for any major concern or worry," said Bommai.

Covid-19 clusters have cropped up at educational institutions and hostels in several regions including Bengaluru, Dharwad, Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru, among others; while at least two cases of Omicron were detected in Bengaluru.

Karnataka reported 373 new Covid-19 cases and four deaths on Thursday, according to PTI. The state's total death toll mounted to 38,253. There are 7,332 active cases in the state.

Should you expect night curfew?

On imposing curbs, the minister, who want to avoid taking any "hasty decision" said any decision regarding measures like night curfew and restrictions on Christmas and New Year celebrations will be taken after analysing the situation for a week.

While talking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, the minister said, the government still felt necessary to take certain precautionary measures, like issuing new guidelines for hostels and their management like- sanitising, letting people for food in a staggered way, restricting visitors, double dose vaccination for all staff working there, and setting up a separate isolation room.

Earlier, similar guidelines were issued for cluster management where more than three positive cases in a place were declared clusters. The minister said such measures will continue and on the advice of the Ministers special vaccination drive will also be held, like last year.

In response to a question, Bommai said that the strict vigilance and measures in the border areas, specifically for students from Kerala like- mandatory vaccination and RT-PCR tests for entering the state, will continue.

The Chief Minister on Wednesday had received an 'informal' briefing by senior officials regarding the current COVID-19 situation in the state, and had held discussions regarding managing the clusters that have emerged, the Omicron situation, and about the government’s preparedness.