Covid: Chandigarh district magistrate makes home quarantine mandatory for travellers from 'at-risk' countries

Tribune Web Desk
Chandigarh, December 20

Chandigarh district magistrate has ordered mandatory home quarantine for passengers travelling to the union territory from “at-risk” countries—a development that comes as Chandigarh reports a rise in Covid-19 cases in the middle of a looming threat from another coronavirus strain, Omicron.

According to the Union health ministry, “at-risk” countries are the United Kingdom, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand and Israel.

Chandigarh reports 14 new cases

The latest from Chandigarh district magistrate Vinay Pratap Singh says that travellers from “at-risk” countries will be tested for Covid-19 at the airport and must compulsorily undergo home quarantine for seven days if they test negative. They will have to undergo a second test at the end of their quarantine period and will have to self-monitor themselves for any possible symptom or the next seven days.         

The circular also orders hotels and guest houses in the union territory to make compulsory enquiries into the travel records of their patrons or guests for the last 15 days at the time of their check-in.

The order will be effective for up to two months from December 21, 2021, to February 18, 2022, the order says. Any breach will invite legal action under Section 188 (disobeying orders of a public servant) under the India Penal Code, Monday’s order says.

Chandigarh’s been reporting a steady rise in Covid-19 cases—the UT’s already recorded 58 new Covid cases since Thursday and one new fatality.