RT-PCR mandatory for passengers coming from China, 4 other countries: Centre

Hyderabad: Union health minister Dr. Mansukh Mandaviya on Saturday announced that RT-PCR tests will now be mandatory for international arrivals from five countries—China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, and Thailand. Any passenger from these countries who are found to be symptomatic or test positive for Covid-19 will be quarantined, said Dr. Mandaviya.

This comes a day after the Union health minister held a meeting with the state ministers to discuss the current situation and ensure that the country is ready with all measures in place.

He also added that it will be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from these countries to fill out the Air Suvidha forms. Air Suvidha self-declaration form is a digital health and travel document that is required from all travellers who wish to enter India.

During the review meeting with state ministers on Saturday, the Union minister advised the state ministers not to panic. "We have three years in pandemic management. The Centre will provide all the support to combat Covid-19. We will take action as per the needs," said Dr. Mandaviya.

The Centre also stressed on the need to increase testing, genome sequencing, and maintain Covid-appropriate behaviour.

On Thursday, the Union health ministry had also announced that 2% random sampling of international passengers will be carried out at international airports across the country in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases in China, the United States of America, Japan, South Korea, Greece, and Italy.