In view of the possibility of a new wave of Covid epidemic, the Central Government has taken a big decision. The government has made RT-PCR test mandatory for passengers coming from these countries including China from January 1. Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya informed about this decision on Thursday. He said that from January 1, it will be necessary for passengers coming to India from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand to give negative Covid test report.

Mandaviya said that the passengers coming from these places will have to upload the negative COVID report of RT-PCR test on the Air Suvidha portal before boarding the flight. He said that the Covid test will have to be done within 72 hours of the journey. The Health Minister said that at present random testing at the airport has been made mandatory for all international passengers arriving in India, but the RT-PCR report needs to be submitted before the passengers board the flight.

Significantly, the Government of India has issued an alert and tightened the Covid guidelines after the surge in the cases of Corona virus in some countries. Along with this, the states and union territories have been asked to be prepared for any situation. 

According to the latest data released by the Union Health Ministry on Thursday, 268 new cases of corona infection were registered in India in 24 hours, after which active cases increased to 3,552. The ministry said that the daily infection rate of corona in the country was recorded at 0.11 percent.

Health experts have warned that the next 40 days are going to be crucial for India, as January may see a surge in Covid cases. An official said that there has been a tendency that the new wave of the Covid epidemic hits India about 30-35 days after knocking in East Asia. Sources say that even if there is a new wave of the Covid pandemic, the rate of death and hospitalization will be very less