In view of the emergence of new COVID-19 variants, the Maharashtra and Karnataka governments have tightened screening at airports for passengers coming in from certain countries. By Anushka Goel
With new COVID-19 variants emerging across the world, the risk of infection is higher than ever. And to prevent these new variants from entering India, the Maharashtra and Karnataka governments have announced increased checks at the airports. RT-PCR tests for passengers have been mandated at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport in Mumbai for incoming passengers, reports Hindustan Times.
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Highlighting the countries subjected to the mandatory RT-PCR testing, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) official Twitter handle writes, “In view of new mutations, pax arriving at Mumbai Airport from UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe shall be mandatorily subjected to self-paid RTPCR Test on arrival.” The notice posted along with the tweet reads that all exemptions granted as per earlier circular shall no longer be applicable.
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The Karnataka Health Department shared an official statement on their Twitter handle, highlighting the new rules for incoming passengers. These rules highlight that passengers coming in from Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe, along with the countries mentioned in earlier circulars (The UK, Europe, the Middle East, South Africa and Brazil), will have to undergo RT-PCR tests at the airport. All passengers from the above-mentioned regions, except Brazil and South Africa, shall provide their samples and leave the airport, while those from these two countries will have to wait until their tests results come back negative, before being allowed to leave the airports in Karnataka.
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