AP govt. alerted over coronavirus new strain, directs health dept. to conduct tests for foreign returnees

The Andhra Pradesh government is on high alert over the Coronavirus new strain identified in United Kingdom. The Department of Health has instructed officials to make all arrangements to conduct tests on those who arrived from the UK. It directed to ensure fhat adequate test kits are available and directed the collectors to coordinate with airport authorities. Collectors of Nellore, Anantapur, Krishna and Guntur districts have been directed to set up help desks.

The Department of Health has said that those who had come from UK should be in the quarantine until the results of the weekly RT-PCR tests arrived. Authorities alos suggested them to stay in self-isolation despite being tested negative. Physicians were instructed to monitor those who were in self-isolation every day for 14 days.

They health officials has also said that the pregnant women, the elderly and children under the age of ten are identified and sent to the home quarantine. International travelers are required to register their full details on the government website 72 hours prior to departure.