Covid-19 Test Mandatory For International Passengers Arriving In Bengaluru; 14-Day Quarantine For These Nationals

Karnataka has been one of the worst-hit regions of the coronavirus pandemic in the country. A few days ago, an emergence of 2 new variants of coronavirus was reported in the capital city of Bangalore. The state Health Minister of Karnataka, Dr K Sudhakar revealed that there has been a severe blow on the state’s economy in the last 10 months. He also confessed that the state will go back to square one if it imposes lockdown again.

To save the state from falling prey to another severe wave of the pandemic, the Karnataka government has chalked out some guidelines especially for both national and international travellers entering the state.

What Are The Guidelines For Travellers?

1. Passengers travelling from Kerala to Karnataka will have to present a recent negative RT-PCR certificate tested within 72 hours.

1. All the passengers will have to undergo Rt-PCR test after arriving at Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. 

1. People travelling from abroad will have to produce a negative RT-PCR certificate irrespective of whether they are vaccinated against COVID 19.

1. Travellers coming to the state from South Africa and Brazil will also have to be quarantined for 14 days in addition to taking RT-PCR tests.

1. The travellers will be released from quarantine only after negative reports in two consecutive RT-PCR tests taken in a gap of 24 hours.

1. All the passengers, irrespective of their COVID 19 vaccination status will be expected to follow all the mentioned guidelines.

Reportedly, the Health Department revealed that the samples of the people undergoing institutional quarantine will be forwarded to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences to carry out genome sequencing.

This is not the first time the Karnataka government is taking precautions against the influx of coronavirus through travellers. The state had asked passengers travelling from the UK to undergo RT-PCR test on arrival at the airport when new strain was reported there.