India makes negative Covid test mandatory for travellers from 5 countries

By Reuters and published by CNA

New Delhi – India will make a negative Covid-19 test mandatory for flyers from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from Jan. 1, the Health Minister said today (Dec. 29).

Travellers from these countries and territories would have to upload their test reports on an India government website before their departure, Minister Mansukh Mandaviya wrote on Twitter.

“This is being done in view of the evolving Covid-19 situation across the world,” the Health Ministry said in a statement, adding that the test should be taken within 72 hours of travel to India.

The new requirement for a Covid-19 test would be in addition to the random tests on 2 percent of all international passengers arriving in India.

The High Commission of India in Singapore on Wednesday had said that travellers from Singapore do not need to undergo mandatory Covid-19 tests when they visit the country.

India joins the United States, Japan, Italy and Taiwan in imposing mandatory Covid-19 tests for travellers from China, amid a Covid-19 surge there after authorities relaxed strict “zero-Covid” rules.

Top health officials from the European Union were holding talks today to try to coordinate very different views on how to respond to China’s decision to lift its Covid-19 restrictions amid a wave of infections there.

CAPTIONS:

Top: Passengers arriving at an Indian airport. Photo: PTI and published by The Business Standard

Front Page: A healthcare worker collects a coronavirus disease (Covid-19) test swab sample from a woman at the Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi, India, on December 3, 2021. File photo: Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis and published by CNA

Also read: Milan reports 50% of passengers on China flights have Covid

South Korea reports first death from ‘brain-eating amoeba’

Expert says face mask use will likely decrease from Feb. onwards

XBB Covid variant spreading in India will soon reach Thailand: expert

Covid-infected Thai man found dead on flight from Saudi Arabia

Neurologist worried about Covid-infected tots getting seizures

Chadchart urges residents to get booster shot after Covid count climbs

New Year’s festival not being cancelled over new Covid strain

Don’t eat bats, Panda Lab Doctor warns