Rayagada: With the detection of a more virulent strain of Covid-19 (N440k) in Andhra Pradesh, Rayagada district administration has sealed about 13 check post points bordering neighbouring Andhra and Telangana.
The vehicles passing through the check posts are being frisked strictly. Only emergency vehicles having valid documents are being allowed to enter the State, Rayagada Collector Saroj Kumar Mishra said.
People coming from the two neighbouring states have to undergo RT-PCR test mandatorily or get vaccinated after completing 14-day mandatory quarantine.
The Collector also visited various check points on the border and discussed with the police and other officials on duty.
“The government has ordered the bordering districts to enforce surveillance at check points. We are not allowing anyone to cross the State border if he/she fails to fulfill the criteria laid down by the government,” Mishra said.
The strain that has been detected in Andhra is more infectious and deadly which pushes a patient to a critical stage in only 3-4 days, he added.
Odisha Government had imposed strident measures to check flow of travelers from the two neighbouring States. Those entering in any emergency manner would have to undergo 14-day institutional quarantine. If, he/she completed final doses of vaccines or tests negative for the virus in RT-PCR test, he/she will be allowed to remain under home isolation for seven days.
The government has directed the Collectors of bordering districts including Ganjam, Gajapati, Rayagada, Koraput, Malkangiri and Nabarangpur to erect check posts on borders in their respective jurisdiction and track the movement of the people.
Srikant Dhal, a health expert said the new strain is 10 times more infectious than the previous one. So, it may spread rapidly and trigger community transmission at a faster rate, he added.
The strain had been detected first in Kurnool of Andhra Pradesh. Now, it is found that 34 out of 100 have been infected with the new variant in Andhra.