At least 138 passengers has reached India, Karnataka in recent times from UK without proper COVID19 test results.
Since a new variant of SAR-CoV-2 was reported recently, Civil Aviation Ministry has banned all incoming flights from the UK, and the Union Health and Family Welfare Ministry has issued directions on Monday to all states and Union territories to put in place testing and quarantine protocols for air travellers on arrival from the UK, the State Government is now tracing these passengers.
Health Minister Dr K Sudhakar revealed that on Sunday and Monday, 49 out of the 291 air passengers who arrived from the UK on a British Airways flight travelled without COVID-19 certificates, and neither were they subjected to RT-PCR tests. Of the 246 passengers who arrived on an Air-India flight, 89 came without a Covid negative certificate and remained untested.
“These passengers are asymptomatic, but for safety, we have sought their details from the civil aviation ministry and are tracing them. Once traced, RT-PCR tests will be conducted on them.” said Sudhakar.
In the recent order issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Jawaid Akhtar, it is mentioned, “For all flights arriving from today, RT-PCR testing must be done for all passengers originating from the UK, including those transiting in other airports outside the UK.”
The statement also mention that if the people had tested positive for RT-PCR test, they should be kept in isolation and the sample must be sent to NIMHANS, Bengaluru, for molecular testing.
If the person has tested negative, they must quarantine for 14 days and must share their contact details for future follow up.
The officials are currently in process of tracing the people who recently flew here.
