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 effectâ€.
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 imposedâ€.
– 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.
