RT-PCR test mandatory for arrivals from 5 nations

The passengers who will be arriving from China, South Korea, Japan, and Thailand RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for passengers by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya.

Talking to the media Health Minister Mandaviya said, “The RT-PCR test to be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. On arrival, if any passenger from these countries is found symptomatic or tests positive for Covid-19 infection, then he/she will be put under quarantine.”

Meanwhile, for all the international passengers arriving from these Asian countries, the Air Suvidha form will be declared compulsory.

Earlier on Friday following a meeting with state ministers Mandaviya tweeted, “Emphasized on the need to be alert in a COVID-19 review meeting with State Health Ministers. There is no need to panic. We have 3 years of experience in pandemic management. The Centre Govt will provide all the support to combat COVID-19. We will take action as per the needs.”

“Also, stressed on combating the pandemic with a pre-emptive & proactive approach by increasing testing, genome sequencing and following COVID-appropriate behavior,” Mandaviya said.

Moreover, a senior Union health ministry said, “We are keeping a close watch on the global Covid situation on a daily basis and we will take whatever measures are required to ensure that the disease does not spread in the country.”

“We do not have any reliable Covid data to go by from China but what we are hearing is the case load is high and it is increasing; Japan has also seen a sudden surge in cases and we are being extremely vigilant,” the official said.

However, for the upcoming festive season, the health ministry also released guidelines. Globally lakhs of cases are being recorded henceforth few hundred cases are recorded in India.