Amid rising Covid-19 cases in China and other countries, two percent random testing of passengers arriving at Indian airports starts on Saturday. In a communication on Friday, the Ministry of Civil Aviation stated that the crew will lead and bring the identified passengers to the testing facility at the airport.
After the random testing, the passenger has to furnish the correct contact and address details to the Airport Health Officers (APHOs)/airport authorities. "The cost of testing shall be reimbursed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on submission of duly certified bills to APHOs," the ministry stated.
In case any passenger tests positive for Covid-19, a copy of the report will be shared with the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme by the airport concerned. Later, they will be shared with the state/Union Territory (UT) concerned for further follow-up action.
The Union Health Ministry and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have urged all passengers to mask up, avoid overcrowding, and maintain physical distance while deboarding. Thermal screening will be done on all passengers arriving on international flights and symptomatic individuals will be immediately isolated at a medical facility.
According to reports, children under the age of 12 will be exempted from random testing at airports. However, if found to be symptomatic, they will undergo testing and treatment at designated medical facilities.
The mandatory RT-PCR tests and Air Suvidha portal are likley to make a comeback, according to sources. No official decision has been announced so far. The Air Suvidha form asks for travellers' complete vaccination proof or details of RT-PCR test conducted 72 hours prior to travel. A decision on this will be taken after monitoring the health situation in the country for a few weeks.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya had earlier directed states to strengthen surveillance and ramp up genome sequencing of Covid-positive samples in the wake of a global rise in cases due to the sub-variant BF 7.Â
