Omicron Scare: From RT-PCR Testing To Large Sitting Area, Mumbai Airport Readies To Implement New Covid Rules | Earth Indian

Mumbai: Mumbai’s Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on Tuesday said passengers arriving from the high-risk countries will be segregated from those arriving from the low-risk nations from December 1. The authorities also added that adequate RT-PCR testing facility in international arrivals in form of 48 registration counters and 40 sampling booths will be placed.

“In addition to normal RT-PCR, 30 Rapid PCR machines, are available for the passengers having connecting onward flights with short connecting time. This facility will be upscaled further if required,” Mumbai Airport said.

The airport authorities have also made it clear that passengers who haven’t done pre-booking of RT-PCR test online, their QR codes will be displayed at various locations in arrival corridor. “Physical forms for RT-PCR registration also made available to passengers on board with help of airlines which they can fill before disembarking from flight,” CSMIA said.

“A large sitting area for the passengers awaiting their RT-PCR results has been be activated with Amenities like washrooms, Food and Beverage,” the airport added.

Earlier, Mumbai Mayor Kishori Pednekar had said that travellers arriving from South Africa to the Mumbai Airport will have to undergo quarantine. In case if a passenger is tested positive for Covid-19 then the samples will be sent for genome sequencing.

“There are concerns in Mumbai about the new variant of coronavirus. Genome sequencing of (positive) passengers coming from South Africa will be done. There is no restriction on outbound flights in any way. But this decision has been taken keeping in view past experience,” Pednekar said on Saturday.

“There is an increased risk of COVID-19 in other nations, so those coming from abroad will have to undergo genome tests. I request everyone to maintain social distancing and wear masks so that this new menace can be stopped,” she added.

6 International Passengers From ‘At-Risk’ Countries Test Positive in Maharashtra

Amid the rising tensions over the new covid variant, Omicron, six passengers from South Africa and other high-risk countries have tested positive for covid-19 in Maharashtra. The Maharashtra Public Health Department on Tuesday informed that one each in Mumbai Corporation, Kalyan-Dombivali Corporation, Meera-Bhayandar Corporation and Pune, and two from Nigeria in Pimpri-Chinchwad corporation have tested positive.

To recall, the Pune Municipal Corporation earlier had said that a 60-year-old man had travelled from Zambia to Mumbai on November 20 and then travelled to Pune by taxi. “The person who tested positive is around 60 years and is stable, asymptomatic and in-home isolation for now,” the Pune Municipal Corporation officials said.

By Shivam Urkude || Earth Indian