MANGALURU: GUIDELINES FOR INTERNATIONAL ARRIVAL FROM ministry of health and family The welfare release on November 30 has irked airline employees. This puts them in the firing line as they have to identify 2 percent of the total flight passengers and escort them for testing at the expense of the passengers!
The ministry’s guidelines state that travelers from countries except at-risk countries will be allowed to go out. Airport and self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival. A sub-segment (2% of total flight passengers) will undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport upon arrival. 2% of such passengers on each flight will be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). Such passengers will be taken to the testing area by the respective airlines/MOCA on arrival. The cost of testing such passengers will be borne by the passengers identified for random testing themselves.
The airline operators here are furious by saying that why should they take responsibility for this unscientific rule? “make either RT-PCR Testing is not mandatory for all or anyone. We will be on the receiving end of the wrath of passengers who will have already passed the mandatory tests before boarding the flight. Also, travelers will certainly question what right do we have to choose one over the other. What explanation should we give? And that the RT-PCR test is not done for free, it will add pressure,” said a member of the airline staff.
Later on Wednesday evening at a meeting of district health officials, airport officials and airline representatives, the airlines sought cooperation of all agencies at the airport to make the process smooth and hassle-free for passengers, as mandated by random sampling. Ministry of Health,
The ministry’s guidelines state that travelers from countries except at-risk countries will be allowed to go out. Airport and self-monitor their health for 14 days after arrival. A sub-segment (2% of total flight passengers) will undergo post-arrival testing at random at the airport upon arrival. 2% of such passengers on each flight will be identified by the concerned airlines (preferably from different countries). Such passengers will be taken to the testing area by the respective airlines/MOCA on arrival. The cost of testing such passengers will be borne by the passengers identified for random testing themselves.
The airline operators here are furious by saying that why should they take responsibility for this unscientific rule? “make either RT-PCR Testing is not mandatory for all or anyone. We will be on the receiving end of the wrath of passengers who will have already passed the mandatory tests before boarding the flight. Also, travelers will certainly question what right do we have to choose one over the other. What explanation should we give? And that the RT-PCR test is not done for free, it will add pressure,” said a member of the airline staff.
Later on Wednesday evening at a meeting of district health officials, airport officials and airline representatives, the airlines sought cooperation of all agencies at the airport to make the process smooth and hassle-free for passengers, as mandated by random sampling. Ministry of Health,
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