Covid: Amid Surge In Cases, These Countries Have Reintroduced RT-PCR Tests For International Passengers

Apart from India, some other countries have also announced stringent guidelines for international passengers.

A healthcare worker collects a swab sample from a man to test for Covid-19 at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi. ( Image Source :Getty Images )

New Delhi: In the light of surge in Covid-19 cases across the world, India stepped up its precautionary measures in a bid to curb the spread of virus, making RT-PCR test before flight mandatory for passengers arriving from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand.

"RT-PCR test made mandatory for flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from 1st January 2023. They will have to upload their reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travel," the Union Minister said in a tweet.

Earlier, India required travellers from these countries to show proof of a negative Covid-19 test on arrival.

Apart from India, some other countries have also announced stringent guidelines for international passengers.

Japan

As per reports, the Japanese government is set to reintroduce mandatory Covid testing on passengers from China from December 30, in the wake of surge of cases in the country.

Travellers from China and those who visited the country in the last seven days will have to take a Covid test upon arrival in Japan and those who test positive will be quarantined for seven days.

Taiwan

The government has stated that Taiwan will test arrivals from China from January 1.

As per Taiwan's Central Epidemic Command Centre, all passengers arriving on direct flights from China or by boat to offshore islands will be required to take the tests.

Health officials will also conduct virus sequencing for those from China. However, these measures do not include those arriving from Hong Kong or Macau.

United States

According to health officials, the United States will require negative Covid tests from all air travellers from China in the wake of a surge in cases.

From January 5, "all air passengers two years and older originating from China will be required to get a test no more than two days before their departure from China, Hong Kong and Macau, and show a negative test result to the airlines upon departure,” a health official said.

United Kingdom

According to a report by The Telegraph, officials from the Department for Transport, Home Office and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) are expected to decide on Thursday whether the UK should follow the United States and Italy in imposing Covid-19 restrictions for travellers from China.

Italy

Following an explosion in cases in China, Italy has made it mandatory for passengers from the country to take Covid tests before arrival.

"I have ordered mandatory Covid-19 antigenic swabs, and related virus sequencing, for all passengers coming from China and transiting through Italy," minister Orazio Schillaci said.

Meanwhile, the Italian northern region of Lombardy introduced screening from Tuesday, a day before this was brought in nationwide.

In a bid to identify new variants, swab samples collected at Malpensa are already being analysed by the national health ministry.

Philippines

The Philippines should be "very cautious" while receiving inbound travellers from China, in the wake of Covid surge, Philippine transportation minister said on Wednesday.

As per reports, the Southeast Asian country could impose measures like testing requirements on travellers from China, Transportation Secretary Jaime Bautista said.