RT-PCR made mandatory for travellers from China & 5 others
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New Delhi; The Union Health Ministry announced on Thursday that those arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand must possess a negative RT-PCR test result from January 1, Hindustan Times reported.
Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said that the said passengers must upload the mentioned report on the Air Suvidha portal before travel.
The move, which was predicted a day ago, got imposed after several countries witnessed a sudden upsurge in Covid-19 cases. On Wednesday, 39 travellers, who arrived in India, tested positive for the virus. This was detected when 6,000 random tests were conducted in airports across the country over the last two days.
Further, there are predictions by experts that in January, India will also witness an uptick in cases, but the death count and hospitalisations will not be severe.
Both Central and state governments advised people to adhere to Covid-19 appropriate behaviour, but none have imposed restrictions so far. This week, hospitals across the country conducted a mock drill to ensure readiness for a sudden crisis based on the pandemic.
Regarding immunisation, 27 per cent of the eligible sections in the country had taken the precautionary dose. The government urged the remaining to take the same.