Covid-19 Test Reports Mandatory for Travelers From 6 Countries
NEW DELHI: The Covid restrictions may soon be repeated in India as the numbers have started to rise in different parts of the world. As a part of the proactive covid prevention strategy, the government of India has made Covid-19 test reports compulsory from the beginning of next year. But no thought has been given to blocking flights from any nation in the world.
The Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced this news on Thursday, December 29 over the micro-blogging website Twitter. The announcement mentioned that negative test results will be compulsory from January 1, 2023. It will be valid for all passengers flying to India from the countries of China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand as mentioned by the minister.
All fliers from these countries will have to upload their negative test results on the government's Air Suvidha Portal. This has to be completed before boarding the respective flights as per the announcement.
"We have seen during the three previous waves that any surge reported in East Asian countries hits Europe in about 10 days, the Americas in another 10 days, and the Pacific island countries in another 10 days. The surge reaches India in 30 to 35 days. So, it is crucial that people stay cautious during the month of January," Union Health Minster Mansukh Mandaviya added.
The health ministry had already issued an advisory related to safety measures to be taken in the month of January. Citing previous instances of Covid Waves in the country, the minister made a prediction regarding the rise in Covid-19 cases in the country in the coming month. But he also mentioned hospitalisation and death numbers are expected to be very low as a huge part of the population has already been inoculated against the very infectious disease.
Although the number of infections has grown manifold across multiple countries in Asia including China and Japan, India still maintains a very low rate of infection.
Also Watch: