Covid Guideline: RT-PCR to be mandatory for travelers from these 5 countries — Check testing, quarantine guidelines for air passengers

Covid Guideline: In view of the increasing number of Covid-19 cases in certain countries, random coronavirus testing of international arriving passengers has begun at the Delhi airport from Saturday. The step comes at a time when authorities are taking up measures to prevent possible spread of Coronavirus infection in the country.

Additionally, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that RT-PCR has been made mandatory for passengers coming from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Any passenger from these countries found symptomatic or testing positive for coronavirus would be quarantined, he added.

"Passengers from China, Japan,  South Korea, Hong Kong and Bangkok (Thailand) are being monitored through the 'Air Suvidha' portal," PTI reported citing Mandaviya.

As per the latest order, passengers arriving on flights from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand are required to upload their RT-PCR report to the portal in advance. Even after landing in India, they will have to undergo thermal screening.

"We have issued an order for them to be quarantined in the country if found positive, or with fever," the minister said.

दिल्ली इंटरनेशनल एयरपोर्ट पर आज चीन, हांगकांग, बैंकॉक, जापान, साउथ कोरिया सहित विदेश से आने वाले यात्रियों का कोरोना का सैम्पल टेस्ट चालू कर दिया गया है।

कोरोना के बढ़ते प्रभाव को देखते हुए सभी आवश्यक कदम उठाए जा रहे हैं। pic.twitter.com/J4ZERQAuWU

— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 24, 2022

Covid Guidelines For New Year 
i) Passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand required to upload RT-PCR report to 'Air Suvidha' portal.
ii) Random Covid testing has begun at the Delhi airport. 
iii) Passengers will not have to pay any fee for the test on arrival.
iv Passengers will not have to wait after submitting their sample. 
v) Symptomatic passengers will be dealt with as per protocol.
vi) Thermal screening to be done for all passengers and those found symptomatic to be immediately isolated.
vii) Two per cent of passengers arriving in each international flight to be randomly tested at airports from Saturday.

Also Read: Covid Guidelines: Experts says India doesn't need to ban international flights or impose lockdown under present Coronavirus scenario

Also, passengers have been urged to cooperate with the on-ground staff during the Covid testing procedures.

#WATCH | Air Suvidha portal to be implemented for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong & Thailand, RT-PCR to be made mandatory for them. After arriving in India, if they test positive, they'll be quarantined: Union Health Min Dr Mandaviya pic.twitter.com/ST7ypqmy1V

— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2022

Covid-19 Cases In India: Health Ministry data
- In the last 24 hours, 201 new cases were registered.
- The total number of active cases of Covid 19 in India is 3,397, which is 0.01% of the total cases.
- There have been 183 recoveries in the last 24 hours. So far, a total of 4,41,42,791 people have been cured of Covid in the country. The recovery rate is at 98.8%.
- The Daily Positivity Rate stands at 0.15% and the Weekly Positivity Rate is recorded at 0.14%.
- In the last 24 hours, 1,05,044 doses of Covid 19 vaccine have been administered.
- Till now, a total of 220.04 crore vaccine doses have been given in the country. 95.12 crore second dose and 22.36 crore precaution dose have been given.
- A total of 90.97 crore tests have been done in the country so far.
- In the last 24 hours, 1,36,315 Covid testing was done.

(With PTI inputs)