On December 24, Saturday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya declared that the COVID detection test RT PCR will be mandatory for passengers flying to India from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore and Thailand, from January 1, 2023. These test results need to be uploaded 72 hours before travel, and need to be submitted by transiting passengers, too.
He further said that those who are found symptomatic or positive will be sent to quarantine immediately. Earlier, he had not mentioned any particular date from when this becomes mandatory, but we have clarity on that too. Mandaviya also added that passengers flying in from these countries are being monitored through the Air Suvidha app, for optimal security.
As per latest updates, travellers who transit through these nations will also have to submit a negative COVID test result on the Air Suvidha portal, to be submitted 72 hours prior to travelling.
RT PCR is mandatory for travellers coming from these countries
Due to the rise in the number of COVID cases around the world, India has been taking measures, by implementing new international travel guidelines for all passengers. In the latest guideline issued by the Union Health ministry, passengers from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Bangkok (Thailand) will need to upload their RT-PCR report in advance before flying. After landing in India, they will have to undergo thermal screening.
RT-PCR test has been made mandatory for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from 1st January 2023. They will have to upload their reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
— Dr Mansukh Mandaviya (@mansukhmandviya) December 29, 2022
On Saturday, the Union Health Ministry reported that India recorded 201 new cases of COVID, bringing the number up to 4.46 crore, with the number of active cases having risen to 3,397.
With the current international travel guidelines in place that requires random COVID-19 testing of two percent of international passengers arriving in India, Delhi, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, Indore and Goa airports have already started action on the new guidelines.
Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan also wrote to the states, mentioning the areas where they need to focus. Checking for the availability of hospitals in all parts of a state with general and ICU beds, trained manpower, provision of referral services and ambulances, oxygen availability, testing, and logistics, were highlighted among other things.
Hero and Feature Image: Courtesy Shutterstock
Related: COVID Advisory Update: International Passengers Will Be Randomly Tested At The Indian Airports
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