The Uttar Pradesh administration has reinstated the mask imperative in public spaces amid the increasing fear of the emergent Omicron variant of coronavirus. Failure to adhere to this norm will result in a challan, read reports. The order was notably moved during a high-level meeting convened by the Chief Minister on Wednesday, where officials were tasked to strictly enforce the mandatory mask rule along with other preventive COVID-19 protocols.
Increased vigil for Omicron screening
In wake of the Omicron alert in UP, the administration has spiked testing, screening and tracing at all entry points across all districts in the state. A strict vigil is now being maintained at all bus stops, railway stations and airports in Uttar Pradesh, under which travellers are being subjected to compulsory RT-PCR testing before entering the state. As per the travel guidelines, no passengers can enter UP without passing the screening procedure.
To further the Omicron guard in UP, the rate of genome sequencing has also been increased throughout the state. As directed by the CM, this step has been implemented in compliance with the guidelines of the Central Government.
The state has further appointed the District Magistrate of Gautam Budh Nagar as the nodal officer to ensure proper provisions of screening added reports. Facilities of rapid genome sequencing will also be set up at Lucknow’s KGMU, PGI, Gorakhpur, Jhansi, Meerut, soon under this action plan.
