RT-PCR mandatory for arrivals from China, 4 other countries
Image For Representation (Deposit Photos)
Image For Representation (Deposit Photos)
New Delhi | The Centre has made the RT-PCR test mandatory for international arrivals from the countries experiencing a surge in Covid cases.
“The RT-PCR test will be mandatory for international arrivals from China, Japan, S. Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand”, Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Saturday.
The Centre has said that if any passenger from these countries on arrival is found symptomatic or tests positive for Covid-19, then he/she will be put under quarantine.
Meanwhile, the states have also been asked to be on alert mode and ramp up the genome sequencing to track the new variant in positive cases.
#WATCH | Air Suvidha portal to be implemented for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong & Thailand, RT-PCR to be made mandatory for them. After arriving in India, if they test positive, they’ll be quarantined: Union Health Min Dr Mandaviya pic.twitter.com/ST7ypqmy1V
— ANI (@ANI) December 24, 2022
Mandaviya, in a meeting with states on Friday, urged the states to strengthen the surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country.
Focus is to be given to health facility-based sentinel surveillance; pan-respiratory virus surveillance; community-based surveillance; and sewage/wastewater surveillance, he added.
Mandaviya said that irrespective of the new COVID variants, ‘Test-Track-Treat-Vaccinate & Adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour’ continue to remain the tested strategy for Covid management.
IANS
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