Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviews Air Suvidha system and RT-PCR testing facilities at IGI Airport, New Delhi

New Delhi: Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya reviewed Air Suvidha system and RT-PCR testing facilities for international passengers at the Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi yesterday. He reviewed the RT-PCR testing mechanism and the Air Suvidha portal, which has started from 1st of this month in view of the recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in some countries. 

Dr Mandaviya also visited the Airport Health Organization office and interacted with the officials. He stated that passengers arriving from six high-risk countries are now mandatorily required to upload their negative RT-PCR test reports in the Air Suvidha portal within 72 hours of undertaking their journey to India. These countries are China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand. The travellers from other countries are



being randomly tested at the airports upon their arrival in India. He said, this is being done to ensure that genome sequencing of any positive case is promptly done to understand the strength and behaviour of any new variants.

Underscoring the challenge posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in some countries across the world, Dr Mandaviya emphasized the importance of being prepared and remaining alert against new and emerging strains of COVID-19. The Minister directed officials to be fully geared up and urged people to follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour and get vaccinated against COVID. 

He also stated that the Union Government is taking all necessary measures to ensure effective preparation and management of the emerging COVID-19 scenario.