Variant scare pushes states to issue new rules for travellers, here is what you need to know

State governments of Karnataka, Gujarat and Maharashtra have stepped up Covid-19 precautionary measures amid a rise in cases and worries over new strain 'Omicron'. 

Maharashtra that was worst affected by the first and second wave of the pandemic has said that over and above the norms prescribed by the central govt, all domestic travellers into the state shall either be fully vaccinated or carry an RT-PCR test valid for 72 hours.

Karnataka is stepping up its precaution as well as the BJP led government in the states said that screening of international passengers at the airports will be intensified and RT-PCR tests will now be mandatory for visitors from Maharashtra and Kerala.

As per reports two South African passengers who arrived in Bengaluru on November 20 tested positive for the coronavirus. The samples of both of them were sent for genome sequencing which confirmed they are infected by Delta Variant. 

Karnataka has requested the Centre to allow the state to administer the booster dose of vaccine to prevent the third wave, informed the minister.