Mumbai: The Maharashtra government Monday made it mandatory for those seeking to enter the state from Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa to carry RT-PCR negative reports. For those flying in, the RT-PCR sample collection should have been done within 72 hours of scheduled time of landing at airports in Maharashtra, a government order said. “The Airports Authority of India is requested to check the report before allowing passengers to board the flight,” it added.
In case of journey by trains, the collection of RT-PCR samples should have been done within 96 hours before the scheduled arrival in Maharashtra, the notification issued by Maharashtra Chief Secretary Sanjay Kumar said.
There will be mandatory screening at border check posts for people coming by road. Passengers without symptoms will be allowed entry. Road travellers with symptoms shall have the option of turning back and going to their home to recuperate, it said.
The four states – Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Goa – have been reporting high caseload of the coronavirus disease, an official said. So people with COVID-19 symptoms from these four states will not be allowed to enter Maharashtra, the order said.
The Maharashtra government Monday came out with revised standard operating procedures on preventive measures to check the spread of COVID-19 in the state.
Air travellers not having the RT-PCR test reports shall compulsorily undergo RT-PCR test at the concerned airports at their own cost, the government said in the order. Airport operators will allow passengers to go home only after they undertake the test, the government said.
Contact information and address shall be collected by the airport operator from all the passengers who undergo tests to facilitate contact in case the test report comes out positive, it said. “Passengers whose report comes out positive will be contacted and treated as per the existing protocol,” the order said.