For flyers transiting via high-risk nations, negative RT-PCR test for Covid a must now

NEW DELHI: Passengers taking transit flights to India from designated high-risk countries will also be required to fill the Air Suvidha form along with a negative RT-PCR report. The Union health ministry on Monday cleared confusion on this issue. As of now the high risk places include China, Singapore, Hong Kong Republic of Korea, Thailand and Japan.
“As per revised guidelines, a mandatory requirement for pre-departure RT-PCR testing (to be conducted within 72 hours prior to undertaking the journey) has been introduced for passengers in all international flights from (high risk) countries. This will also apply to transiting passengers through the (high risk) countries irrespective of their originating countries before coming to any Indian airport,” health ministry additional secretary Lav Agarwal wrote to the aviation ministry on Monday.
Accordingly, the Air Suvidha Portal “has to be made operational for passengers in all international flights from these countries, with a provision to allow international travellers arriving in India to submit negative RT-PCR test reports as well as to submit self-declaration form on this portal,” Agarwal’s letter says.
The existing practice of post-arrival random testing of 2% travellers (irrespective of port of departure) shall continue, it adds. Among the places designated high risk, Singapore Changi (Singapore Airlines), Japan’s Tokyo Haneda and Narita (ANA and Japan Airlines) and Hong Kong (Cathay Pacific) are big transit points for people travelling between India and the fast east, Australia, New Zealand, right up to the west coast of North America.
Meanwhile, Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Monday reviewed Covid-19 testing and screening facility at Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International airport.