Mumbai: RT-PCR on arrival must for flyers from UK, Europe, NZ

Health workers keep vigil as passengers exit the Mumbai international airport after their arrival from London on December 22. File/AFP

Starting Thursday, flyers reaching the city's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport from or transiting through the UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe will have to compulsorily go for self-paid RT-PCR tests on arrival. This follows the government's decision to do away with institutional quarantine. The tests will help authorities keep a track of more transmissible variants of COVID, said officials.

Each such traveller will be charged Rs 600 for the test, which has been fixed by the government. Officials said arrangements to facilitate registration and the test have already been made by the airport operator. About 600 passengers can be put through the test in an hour, they said. Following the self-paid tests at the airport, the passengers will be required to be under home quarantine for 14 days.

As per government guidelines, there is no exemption of the mandatory test rule for anyone, even those who are fully vaccinated or above 65 years of age.

All other passengers - except those from or through UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe - who have to exit Mumbai airport or have to take connecting flights must carry a negative report of an RT-PCR test conducted within 72 hours of the journey. RT-PCR test shall not be mandatory for such passengers on arrival at the city airport from September 3.

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"All passengers shall have to submit their self-declaration form and undertaking to officers deployed at the Mumbai airport and shall be mandatorily subjected to
14 days home quarantine," read a press statement issued by BMC.