Bengaluru: In blatant violation of government guidelines, a four-year-old boy was forced to take a pre-departure COVID-19 test at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) here.
According to a report in The Times of India, the boy and his parents – all US citizens – were travelling to Port Blair for a vacation. But the ground staff of domestic airline Go First refused to let the four-year-old accompany his parents without providing a negative COVID test report.
Union Ministry of Health & Family Welfare guidelines state that children below five years are exempted from undergoing pre-departure and post-arrival COVID tests at Indian airports. Obviously the airline staff were not aware of government protocols and rules.
“I explained to the air staffer that protocol issued by the Union Health Ministry specifically exempts children below the age of five from RT-PCR tests, but he refused to listen. He rudely replied that ‘if the boy tests negative, he flies with you’,” TOI quoted the boy’s father Rajdeep Ganguly as saying.
Ganguly, an IT professional, then asked the airline staff to show the clause which states that COVID-negative report is mandatory for the four-year-old, but they refused.
Bhubaneswar: In a significant stride towards advancing economic growth in the state, the Odisha government…
Hyderabad: ‘Baahubali’ actor Prabhas has signed a three-movie deal with Hombale Films, the makers of…
Berhampur: After theft from famous Tara Tarini shrine in Odisha’s Ganjam, burglars decamped with a…
Mumbai: Actress Athiya Shetty and Team India cricketer KL Rahul will welcome a new member…
Mumbai: Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Rajiv Kumar on Friday came down heavily on political leaders…
Bhubaneswar: The Capital Region Urban Transport (CRUT), a public transit agency in Odisha, on Friday…
Mumbai: Over the years, female actresses have often outshone their male confreres at the domestic…
Bhubaneswar: War of words between the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and opposition Biju Janata…