Hubballi, Dec 1 : Karnataka Chief Minister Bommai visiting New Delhi on Thursday and is scheduled to meet Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya to discuss Booster vaccine dose for Covid and health frontline workers.

“I am visiting New Delhi tomorrow. There I will meet our union health minister and discuss administration of Booster vaccine dose for health workers and Covid frontline workers. It has been more than 6 months since they had their double dose of vaccine,” he told reporters here.

The technical expert advisory committee on Covid is of the view that, “it would be better to administer the booster dose for health and frontline workers. We will discuss the centre’s stand on the issue,” Bommai said.

Strict vigil is being maintained on international passengers. One of the test samples of a South African passenger had been sent to NCBS to ascertain the exact variant. Appropriate measures would be taken after getting the report. Stringent precautions were in force in areas bordering Kerala as well, Bommai said.

International passengers and students from Kerala are being monitored with special focus. At a cluster in Dharwad 306 have tested positive out of which only 2 have tested positive when tested again 7 days later. None of them have any serious symptoms. The situation is under control. About 7000 persons have already been tested in the area. Over 1000 people have been tested within the radius of 500 metres of the cluster, Bommai said.

All international passengers arriving at the airports were being tested as part of the tightened Covid precautions in the state, Bommai said.

About 2500 international passengers arrive at Bengaluru airport and some at Mangaluru airport. “After the experience we had last time, we have initiated stringent measures right away.”

He appealed to the people not to panic about Omicron, the new variant of Covid. People are just recovering economically, socially and have resumed their normal life. “We do not have any proposal to impose the lockdown,” he clarified.

Replying to a question about Junior Doctors’ strike in the state, the Chief Minister said that stipend had not been paid in some colleges due to non submission of necessary documents. Instructions had been issued for payment of stipend to those who have already submitted the documents. All the students would get the stipend in 2-3 days.(UNI)