Tamil Nadu to intensify screening at airports
The Hindu
Move follows alert on new COVID-19 variant
With the Union Health Ministry issuing an alert on the risk posed by a COVID-19 variant, first detected in South Africa, the State’s Health Department has decided to intensify screening at airports.
Health Minister Ma. Subramanian told reporters on Friday that based on the directive from the Union Ministry, the Health Secretary had issued instructions to all Collectors. “The Union Health Ministry had laid down guidelines on the testing of travellers from certain countries and COVID-19 protocols. We will intensify the measures and screen travellers from countries such as South Africa and Hong Kong and follow guidelines, including for quarantine,” he said.
Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan added that Tamil Nadu was the first to make RT-PCR negative reports mandatory for travellers from any country.
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The Karnataka government has drafted a comprehensive master plan for the integrated development of Kukke Subrahmanya temple, the State’s highest revenue-generating temple managed by the Hindu Religious Institutions and Charitable Endowments Department. The redevelopment initiative is estimated to cost around ₹254 crore and aims to enhance infrastructure and facilities for devotees.