The Maharashtra State Government has issued fresh guidelines for international passengers arriving at Mumbai for a connecting flight. As per the new advisory, passengers arriving at the airport from overseas will have to undergo the RT-PCR test for COVID-19 if they don’t have a negative test report with them.
Given that test results can take up to 7 to 8 hours to be generated, the guidelines state that the passengers should schedule their connecting flights for at least 12 hours after their arrival at the airport.
The guidelines suggest that patients who test positive for the coronavirus may not board their connecting flights and will have to undergo quarantine or treatment in Mumbai.
Naturally, officials will permit travel on connecting flights if the passengers have a negative test certificate upon arrival. Those with a negative test report will not need to be tested either, allowing such passengers to move on to their next flight without delays.
Also Read - Fadnavis Urges CM Thackeray To Ramp Up COVID-19 Testing In Mumbai
Charges for the RT-PCR test at the airport has been capped at ₹2,200 and will have to be paid by the passengers who do not possess a negative test certificate. This comes as the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) setup testing facilities at the airport, becoming only the second airport in India to do so after the IGI Airport in Delhi.
Separately, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has decided to scrap its plan to place those above the age of 50 under mandatory institutional quarantine. This came after a review meeting was held with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray over the weekend.
Explaining the initial move, a health officer said - “The decision to admit all patients above 50 years was taken to monitor them from the beginning and screen them daily. There are several patients who are seeking admission when their condition turns critical.”
Also read - BMC Conducts Antigen Tests On Hawkers And Shopkeepers
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