Mandatory RT-PCR Testing for COVID-19 in India
The Indian government is planning to introduce mandatory RT-PCR testing for passengers arriving from China, Japan, South Korea, and Thailand at boarding points, and potentially quarantine those who test positive upon arrival. This measure is being implemented in response to the rise of the highly infectious BF.7 variant in China, and may also apply to passengers traveling from Hong Kong.
The government is also conducting a mock drill at hospitals to assess the availability of resources such as trained personnel, ambulances, and medical oxygen. In addition, the government has directed states to ensure the availability of medical oxygen and functional ventilators and other oxygen systems at health facilities. The government has called for increased mask-wearing, vaccination coverage, testing, and genome surveillance in response to the COVID-19 situation in other countries, while India itself has seen a downward trend in cases.
