Omicron Scare: RT-PCR test mandatory for all domestic travellers
Mumbai : Maharashtra government has announced that carrying an RT-PCR report or double dose certificate is mandatory for all passengers making and intra-state travellers.
The development comes after WHO announced Omicron a 'variant of concern' and over a dozen of nations have reported Omicron strain cases.
The order states that the move is being implemented under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 “with immediate effect”.
Check out the new restrictions as per order below:
For domestic travellers:
– In the case of domestic air travel, passengers travelling within Maharashtra will either have to be fully vaccinated or compulsorily carry a RT-PCR test within 48 hours of the time of arrival.
– In case of passengers from other Indian states, negative RT-PCR test within 48 hours of arrival will be compulsory without exceptions.
FOR INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS
– All restrictions imposed by the Centre on November 28 and future restrictions if any shall act as “minimum restrictions to be imposed”.
– All passengers arriving from international flights will have to declare details of the countries visited in the last 15 days. For this, the DCP immigration and FRRO are to draft a proforma of declaration.
Mumbai International Airport (MIAL) will share this proforma with all airlines and the information provided will be cross-checked by immigration on arrival. Incorrect info will be subject to relevant sections under the DMA, 2005.
– International passengers arriving from “at-risk” countries may be de-planed on priority, and MIAL and the Airport Authority (AAI) will screen them at separate counters.
These passengers will have to undergo mandatory 7 days' institutional quarantine, and will undergo RT-PCR tests on the second, fourth and the seventh day.
If found positive, the passengers will be shifted to a hospital, and if all tests are negative, they will have to undergo a further 7 days of home quarantine.
– Other international passengers arriving from non-“at-risk” countries will have to undergo compulsory RT-PCR test at the airport.
If found negative, they will have to undergo 14 days of home quarantine, and if positive, they will be shifted to a hospital.
– For international passengers with connecting flights to any other airport in India (without leaving the airport at all), an RT-PCR test at the first arrival airport in Maharashtra will be mandatory. They will be allowed to board the connecting flight only if the test result is negative.
