RT-PCR Test Report Mandatory For Travellers From China & These Countries From Jan 1

New Delhi: The Indian government has made RT-PCR test mandatory for travellers flying in from China and five other east Asian countries.

Come January 1, 2023, passengers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand will have to upload RT-PCR reports on the Air Suvidha portal before travelling.

The tests have to be conducted within 72 hours of undertaking the journey to India, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya said on Thursday.

The minister clarified that this requirement is in addition to the random tests of 2% of passengers in all incoming international flights on arrival in India, irrespective of their port of departure.

The government had earlier made RT-PCR test mandatory for all international arrivals from five countries – China, Japan, South Korea, Hong Kong and Thailand.

Amid a spike in coronavirus cases in some countries,

India has sounded an alert following a significant rise in COVID cases in these countries, tightening COVID-19 guidelines and asking states and Union territories to prepare for any eventuality.