DGHS issues 15-point directives to prevent Omicron

The Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) issued 15-point directives to prevent the highly contagious new Omicron COVID-19 variant. 

A notification, signed by Professor Dr. Nazmul Islam, director of disease control of DGHS, was issued on Monday. 

The 15 directives include:  

1. Strengthening of medical tests and screening of passengers arriving from South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, Eswatini, Lesotho and other new variant infected countries declared by the World Health Organization (WHO) must be ensured.

2. All types of public gatherings have to be discouraged.

3. People must follow all essential health rules including wearing facemasks while going outside the residence.

4. Limiting dining facilities at restaurants should be ensured. 

5. Limiting people’s gathering at different places including tourist spots, recreation centers, resorts, community centers, cinema halls and social programs should be ensured. 

6. Health rules must be maintained at all places of worship including mosques. 

7. Health rules must be maintained at public transports.

8. Passengers arriving from the infected countries have to be kept for a 14-day quarantine.

9. All educational institutions and coaching centers must maintain health rules.

10. Healthcare professionals and health service recipients must follow heath guidelines strictly. 

11. The vaccination program must be conducted maintaining health rules.

12. People with suspected coronavirus cases, positive patients and other people who have come in close contact with COVID-19 patients have to be kept in quarantine.

13. The suspected COVID-19 people have to be kept in quarantine as well as they have to be brought under the testing facility.

14. Wearing face masks must be made mandatory at offices besides maintaining other health rules. 

15. Publicity campaign has to be launched to create awareness among people about health guidelines to prevent and control the spread of the deadly virus.

ARR