Gathering limits, travel ban on Omicron-hit countries suggested

The National Technical Advisory Committee on Covid 19 has recommended imposing ban on the arrival of passengers in Bangladesh from the countries where new Covid variant Omicron has been identified.

Besides, the committee also recommended limiting all kinds of public gatherings to check this new variant

The recommendations were made following the committee’s 48th meeting held on Sunday.

“Omicron is spreading from South Africa to many parts of the world. The World Health Organization has declared Omicron a variant of concern. Many countries in Asia, Europe and America have imposed restrictions on passenger arrivals from Zimbabwe, Namibia, Botswana and Swaziland to prevent its spread,” said the committee in a press release.

In this context, it is being recommended to stop the arrival of passengers from the above mentioned countries and also from the countries where the infection has spread, it added.

Other recommendations of the advisory committee include that if a person has a history of traveling to these countries for the last 14 days, he/she should stay in the institutional quarantine for 14 days in Bangladesh.

If the person tested positive for Covid then isolation should be done.

The committee in their recommendation also said tests should be conducted at each port of entry across the country, social security measures be strictly adhered, including school colleges, treatment facility be strengthened and people should be encouraged for doing Covid test free of charge.