International Passengers Taking Connecting Flights Can Now Take Covid-19 Tests At Entry Airports

A new order by the Aviation Ministry says that international passengers who are going to take a connecting domestic flight in India will now the facility to take Covid 19 tests at the entry airport.

(File Photo/ AFP)

New Delhi: As the cases of coronavirus in India continue to increases significantly on a daily, the Aviation Ministry is tightening its Covid-19 safety regulations. According to a new ministry order, international passengers who have to take connecting domestic flights after landing in India can now get themselves tested for Coronavirus at entry airports. RT-PCR tests will be available and if the results of the passengers are negative then only they will be allowed to continue their journey without any need for institutional quarantine at the destination city. The order also said that since the test results take a maximum of seven hours, passengers will have to remain in the airport waiting for lounge. The ministry is also looking at making the on-arrival testing facilities available for other passengers soon. It is to be noted that those

• International passengers who does not have a Covid-negative result certificate from a test done not more than 96 hours prior to the journey, and who do not opt for on-arrival testing facility at the entry airport, will have to compulsorily undergo seven-day institutional quarantine followed by seven-day home quarantine.

Last month several changes were made to air travel protocols. The government allowed airlines to serve pre-packed snacks/meals/pre-packed beverages on domestic flights depending on the duration of the flight. Passengers are also now allowed to use the in-flight entertainment system on international as well as domestic flights wherever available. Most importantly though the government increased its watch over COvid 19 safety and announced that the airlines will have the right to put a person on the no-fly list if she or he deliberately refuses to wear a face mask on a flight. Other directives included.