Mumbai: Two per cent of the total passengers on the flight shall undergo random post-arrival testing at the airport on arrival from December 24 (Saturday), as per the Union Health Ministry. Moreover, such travellers on each flight shall be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). A senior health official said proper guideline has been issued by the centre which needs to be implemented by the AirPortHealth Officers (APHOs) at all the airports.
“Travellers have to submit the samples after which they shall be allowed to leave the airport. A copy of the positive report shall be shared with Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme at shoc.idsp@ncdc.gov.in by the concerned Testing Laboratory ( besides sharing with the APHOs) to be in turn shared with concerned State/UT for further follow up action,” read guidelines issued on December 22.
“In case, any such travellers are tested positive, their samples should be sent for genomic testing at the designated INSACOG laboratory network. While the testing may be coordinated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the cost of testing shall be reimbursed by this Ministry on submission of duly certified bills to respective AirPort Health Offices (APHOs). Ministry of Civil Aviation is requested that this testing may be done at subsidized and uniform rates across all international airports,” further read.
The union ministry on Thursday (December 22) issued a guideline stating that random sampling of international passengers needs to be carried out in all the international airports in the country, following which civic officials said that they will follow suit.
“We will follow and implement whatever guidelines the union ministry and state government ask us to follow at the local level. At present, the infection rate in Mumbai is very low and there is no reason for citizens to panic. Mumbai has also a high vaccination rate and the hospital admissions are also very low,” said Dr Sanjeev Kumar, additional municipal commissioner.
