With the cyclic increase in Covid 19 cases, the Civil Aviation Ministry of India floated guidelines regarding random testing for international travellers on Friday. Considering 5 countries’ recurring suffering from the pandemic, the communication has clarified the strictness to be followed by the airline’s authorities.
As per the statements, each airline will ask their crew to select a group for testing for international travel to India. These 2 percent of identified passengers must be brought straight to the testing facility after the flight lands. Its communication is sent to the aviation regulator DGCA. This has been followed by disseminating the information to all the states and UT.
In the communication, it is said that ”The airport operators would create the necessary infrastructure to facilitate random testing of international arriving passengers at their respective airports,”
Stating the arrangement in Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport, there are 3 sampling booths and 6 counters dedicated to testing for international travel. The advisory sent to the authorities is also forwarded to the concerned people via digital platforms.
How will Airline’s Crew Select the Passengers?
The airlines are commanded to guide their crew in selecting 2 per cent of the travellers travelling to the same or different destinations. This will be based on observations made by the crew members tackling the crowd of passengers. However, submitting the samples is the only duty of those selected travellers who may be asked to leave the airport.
What Will be the After Effects of Positive Passengers?
In detecting positive test results, those travellers’ samples will be the next process- the genetic testing at INSACOG laboratory networks. Then, such travellers must fill in their authentic details such as personal number, address, and more. This will be used to track the patient’s future whereabouts. Interestingly, expenses for random covid testing for international travellers are refunded by the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. To avail of the reimbursement, the concerned person has to submit the duly certified bills to the APHOs.
Where will the Positive Reports be Analysed?
The reports of declared positive patients among the travellers identified by the covid testing team for international travel to India will be sent to IDSP. IDSP, or Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme, are the authoritative body designed to analyse the stats on possible covid patients entering the country. Later, the same report will be disseminated to the states and UTs to take measures against spreading infection.
Besides the authorities, even the stakeholders are commanded to promptly follow the guidelines and implications, time and again, to ensure better outcomes. In the case of RT-PCR testing for international travel, one may reach out to the airport’s arrival concourse. This comes after the six health screening counters made in the pre-immigration area.
For better information, the random covid testing for international travellers is completely free and can be availed at any hour of the day. The fact that the passenger has been selected by the crew or not, a general screening test of each one will be a regular part before exiting the airport. Moreover, social distancing should be maintained during deboarding.
