RT-PCR test mandatory for arrivals from China, 4 other nations: Union Health Minister

Mansukh Mandaviya, the Union Health Minister, declared on Saturday that travellers arriving from five countries, including China, will henceforth be required to submit to an RT-PCR test.

“The RT-PCR test to be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand. On arrival, if any passenger from these countries is found symptomatic or tests positive for Covid-19 infection, then he/she will be put under quarantine,” Health Minister Mandaviya said in a conversation with ANI. He also said that the Air Suvidha form filling to declare the current health status will also be made compulsory for international passengers arriving from these Asian countries.

Taking note of the rising cases of COVID globally, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya on Friday said that the Centre and States need to work in “tandem” and in a “collaborative spirit” as was done during the previous surges.

Mandaviya stated that the nation must be aware and completely prepared for COVID management while presiding over a virtual conference on Friday with the state’s health ministers, Principal Secretaries, Additional Chief Secretaries, and Information Commissioners.

The meeting was held to review public health preparedness for containment and management of COVID-19 and the status of the national COVID-19 vaccination campaign in light of the recent upsurge in cases in some countries, including China, Japan, Brazil, and the United States. Union Minister of State for Health Bharati Pravin Pawar and NITI Aayog member V K Paul attended.

In light of the impending holiday season, Manadaviya has also emphasised the significance of public awareness efforts about adherence to Covid-appropriate behaviour.

He requested that the state health ministers personally oversee and assess the readiness of the infrastructure and make sure that there is a sufficient supply of vital medications.

Notably, in June 2022, the Union Health Ministry published “Operational Guidelines for Revised Surveillance Strategy in context of COVID-19,” which calls for the early identification, isolation, testing, and prompt management of suspected and confirmed cases in order to identify and control outbreaks of new SARS-CoV-2 variants.

In light of the escalating COVID instances in China and other nations, India would start randomly testing 2% of all overseas travellers arriving at its airports for COVID-19, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced to Parliament on Thursday.