Subhechcha Ganguly 
On Saturday, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced that travellers from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Thailand would be required to undergo an RT-PCR test for the identification of COVID-19. Additionally, he stated that airport thermal screening will be performed on travellers arriving in India from these nations, and those who test positive for COVID-19 or have a fever will be confined. In an interview with journalists in Gandhinagar, Mandaviya stated that travellers travelling from these nations will be required to complete the “Air Suvidha” form to certify their current health status.
“Passengers from China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore, and Bangkok (Thailand) are needed to upload their RT-PCR reports in advance due to the COVID-19 pandemic situation (for travel to India). They will undergo thermal screening upon arrival in India, and if found to be positive or to have a fever, we have ordered that they be quarantined “said the minister.
Mandaviya was in the capital of Gujarat to speak at the National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research’s convocation (NIPER). Speaking to reporters, he added that more examples of COVID-19 were being reported in countries such as South Korea, Hong Kong, Europe, America, and Brazil, and that the central government was taking action against it.
“A COVID-19 advisory was released yesterday. People are made aware via newspaper adverts. I made a statement in Parliament urging people to wear masks as a requirement, keep social distance, and behave in a COVID-appropriate manner in order to protect India from the new BF.7 variant of the virus in the future “said he.
In the meantime, Mandaviya tweeted: “At the Delhi International Airport, sample testing of foreign travellers has begun, including those from China, Hong Kong, Bangkok, Japan, and South Korea. With the situation of the coronavirus evolving, all appropriate actions are being taken.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi warned against complacency, called for a strict vigil, and ordered that the ongoing surveillance efforts, notably at the international airports, be intensified on Thursday as China and other nations experienced an increase in COVID-19 cases.
