MONDAY, MAY 06, 2024
Team Herald
PANJIM: Goans travelling to Maharashtra by air and rail now have to carry a COVID-19 negative certificate, as this has been made mandatory by the State government.
The Maharashtra government on Monday issued fresh guidelines for passengers arriving in the State from four Covid-hit States in the country.
The new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) ordered by the Maharashtra government is for all passengers travelling by rail, air or road.
Interestingly, Goa is amongst the four States from where passengers have to produce COVID-19 negative certificate. The other States are Delhi NCR, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
According to the new guidelines, every passenger arriving from Delhi-NCR, states of Goa, Rajasthan and Gujarat will have to mandatorily carry a COVID-negative (RT-PCR) report while travelling by either rail and air.
For domestic air travellers, the RT-PCR sample collection should be done within 72 hours prior to the scheduled time of landing at airports in Maharashtra, the State government said in a statement.
“The Airports Authority of India is requested to check for the report before allowing the passengers to board the flight,” the government notification said. “Only after taking the test, the passengers will be allowed to go home by the Airport Operator,” it said.
The contact information and address shall be collected for those taking the test at the airport in order to facilitate contact, in case the report comes negative.
On the other hand, passengers arriving in the State via rail will have to carry an RT-PCR negative test report from a sample collected 96 hours before the scheduled arrival in the State.
“Passengers not having the RT-PCR test reports will have to compulsorily undergo RT-PCR tests at concerned airports at their own costs. The airport shall arrange the testing centres and charge the passengers directly for testing,” it further said.
Rail passengers who do not have an RT-PCR test negative report shall be screened for symptoms, including body temperature at the alighting railway stations. Passengers who test negative will be allowed to go home, the order stated.
Similarly, for those travelling by road, the Maharashtra government directed the concerned district collectors of land border districts to make arrangements to ensure that the passengers coming from these four States be tested for symptoms including body temperature.
Maharashtra government stated that entry will be allowed to only those passengers without symptoms. “Passengers with symptoms shall have the option of turning back and going home to recuperate,” it added.
Passengers displaying symptoms will be segregated and made to undergo antigen test. If the tests come negative, the passenger will be allowed to enter the State.
The Maharashtra government, in its order, further stated that passengers who are do not undergo test or are found Covid positive after arriving, will be sent to Covid Care Centre (CCC) for further care, where the charges of the treatment will be borne by the passengers.
