Gandhinagar: RT-PCR tests will be mandatory at Gujarat airports for travellers from several countries, due to the new Omicron variant of Coronavirus.

The state government has introduced new travel guidelines for the fliers from over 40 countries arriving at the airports in Gujarat. The RT-PCR tests will be mandatory for the fliers arriving from Europe, UK, Brazil, South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, and Hong Kong.

Similar restrictions are imposed at Mumbai airport in which the fliers arriving at Mumbai airport from South Africa will be quarantined and the samples will be sent for genome sequencing if found positive for Covid-19.

The travellers arriving in Gujarat from the countries categorised as ‘at risk’ by the Union Health Ministry will have to undergo RT-PCR test if they are not fully vaccinated. The Union Health Ministry has categorised nine countries as ‘at risk’ which are UK, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. The travellers arriving in the state from the ‘at risk’ countries will have to submit samples for covid-19 tests if they are partially vaccinated or not vaccinated. They will have to remain home quarantined for 7 days and will be required to take another test on the eighth day after arrival. The self-monitoring will be needed further for a week even if they test negative. The travellers from ‘at risk countries who are fully vaccinated will have to also quarantine themselves for 14 days after arrival. DeshGujarat