Amid a rise in the COVID-19 cases across the globe, the Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Thursday, December 29, announced a mandated RT-PCR test for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from January 1, 2023.
This comes as the government steps up surveillance amid a huge number of COVID-19 cases in several countries, including China. These are countries reporting a massive surge in coronavirus cases.
As per the official statement revealed by the health ministry, the passengers also will have to upload their reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
#ImportantAnnouncement
— Air India (@airindiain) December 29, 2022
Effective 1st Jan 2023, all passengers travelling from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to India have to undergo a mandatory RTPCR test within 72 hours of the journey, and upload its report on the Air Suvidha portal. #AirIndia pic.twitter.com/HIPELHMTM3
Health experts have predicted India will see a Covid surge in January. Cases are projected to rise over the next 40 days. The alert has been sounded based on the previous year's readings.
It is pertinent to note that this requirement is in addition to the random two per cent tests of all international passengers in all incoming international flights on their arrival in India irrespective of their port of departure.
Meanwhile, according to the data received by the ministry, on Wednesday, December 28, 39 international travellers arriving in India tested positive during 6,000 random tests carried out at airports over the previous two days (December 26-27).
On the other hand, on the same day, two international passengers arriving at Mumbai airport tested positive for COVID.
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