In a move to check the new “virulent variant of Covid-19”, the Delhi government announced that all those coming to the Capital from Andhra Pradesh or Telangana will have to undergo 14-day institutional quarantine as a precaution.

This was announced by the Delhi Government on Thursday.

It was specified that all those coming to Delhi from Andhra Pradesh or Telangana by bus, train, flight, car, truck or any mode of transportation will have to mandatorily undergo 14 days of quarantine at an institutional or paid facility. This was as a means to check against a new virulent strain of Covid-19 that has reportedly been found in these States.

According to a report in India Today, a further order released by the Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Thursday, said all those who have been completely vaccinated with both doses and can show their certificate will be allowed to undergo home quarantine for seven days on entering Delhi. The same rule applies for people who can show a negative RT-PCR report not older than 72 hours prior to the journey.

In case of those visitors who fall in these two categories but for whom home quarantine is not available, can opt for a week-long quarantine at an institutional or paid facility.

Visitors who are checking into hotels, resorts or State Bhawans, the owner or the resident commissioner respectively will be responsible for ensuring compliance with these guidelines.

Those Government officials who are travelling from these States to Delhi on official work have been exempted from the rule if they are asymptomatic. However, they must monitor their health for 14 days and follow Covid protocol.

The India Today report also stated that the new variant of Covid-19 that has been found in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana reportedly has a shorter incubation period and high transmission rate. The progress of the disease is much faster in this strain.