PANJIM: Two Russians, who came along with 520 other charter tourists, have tested positive for COVID-19. Their samples have been sent for genome sequencing at National Institute of Virology (NIV) Pune to ascertain whether they are infected with new Omicron variant.
Sources informed that season’s first charter flight from Russia – BOING 747 — Russair had landed at International Airport Dabolim on Wednesday morning. On arrival, two Russians were found positive for COVID-19 with mild symptoms. They have been isolated at a facility in South Goa.
As such, the State government mandated that all passengers arriving from abroad will have to get tested upon arrival at the airport. The mandatory testing condition was earlier applicable to passengers travelling only from high-risk countries.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said that government will be testing all international passengers on arrival, travelling from high risk countries as well as non-high risk countries.
Rane said that earlier, we tested only two per cent of passengers travelling from non-high risk countries. “However, the government has now taken decision in public interest to test all international passengers,” he said.
Rane said that Goa being a tourist destination, it is very important for us to protect the citizens as well as the tourists.
The government has also approved capping of Rapid RT-PCR test at Rs 1,500, until further orders.
