Negative RT-PCR mandatory even for passengers transiting via high-risk countries

Passengers taking transit flights to India from designated high-risk countries—China, Hong Kong, South Korea, Japan, Singapore, and Thailand—will now need a negative RT-PCR report and need to mandatorily upload these test results on the Air Suvidha portal.

RT-PCR tests need to be taken up to 72 hours prior to departure.

Of the countries mentioned, Japan, Singapore, and Hong Kong are major transit hubs for international passengers traveling to India, Australia, New Zealand, far eastern countries, and even some North American destinations.

The clarification, issued on January 2 by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, comes days after there was confusion on the status of transit passengers coming in via some of these international hubs. An earlier notification by India’s health ministry had only made negative RT-PCR tests mandatory for “arrivals” from these designated high-risk countries.

“As per the revised guidelines, a mandatory requirement for pre-departure RT-PCR testing has been introduced for passengers on all international flights from these countries. This will also apply to transiting passengers through the countries irrespective of their originating countries before coming to any Indian airport,” Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, wrote to the Ministry of Civil Aviation on Monday.

The existing practice of randomly testing 2 per cent of the travellers on arrival, irrespective of their originating country, will continue, the letter clarified.

According to the letter, the practice is in force as of January 1.

Meanwhile, India, on Monday, reported 173 fresh Covid cases and two deaths.

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