New Corona variant threat: RT-PCR test mandatory for International passengers at Mumbai airport
Mumbai International Airport has made RT-PCR test mandatory for all international passengers arriving at the Mumbai International Airport after the new variant C.1.2 of the coronavirus was detected. BMC has issued a circular saying that from September 3, RT-PCR test for international passengers arriving at Mumbai airport from UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe is mandatory. The new Covid variant C.1.2 was first found in South Africa. No case of this variant has been found in India so far.
After the implementation of this rule, the old rules will be canceled, which includes both doses of the vaccine and exemption for senior citizens above 65 years of age. According to the new circular, the quarantine rule for international passengers traveling by air has been ended.
Passengers from other countries will have to bring negative report
All preparations have been made at Mumbai airport for RT-PCR of passengers. It will be mandatory for the passengers coming from other countries except these countries to show the negative report of RT-PCR test not earlier than 72 hours before on arrival or going anywhere from here. Only after that the passenger will be able to leave the airport.
Such passengers will not need to undergo RT-PCR test at the airport. A BMC official said that arrangements have been made for RT-PCR test at the airport. There 600 people can be tested per hour.
C.1.2 variant found in 6 countries of the world
Maria van Kerkhove, the WHO’s technical lead for Covid-19, said on Tuesday that the C.1.2 variant has been found in at least six countries. According to WHO, researchers in South Africa first presented their findings on the C.1.2 variant to the WHO Virus Evolution Working Group on 21 July. This new variant was first reported in South Africa in May. The researcher has said for the C.1.2 variant that it is more contagious than the virus native to Wuhan.
