India at Tokyo Olympics Opening Ceremony India
The Indian government on Sunday said athletes, officials and media returning to the country from the Tokyo Olympics will not be required to prepare RT-PCR negative test reports for COVID-19 before departure from the Japanese capital.
The decision was informed in an official letter by Lav Agarwal, Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, after Indian Olympic President Narinder Batra requested the government to exempt returnees from Tokyo Games for producing RT-PCR negatives earlier in the day. was given. report before boarding their flights. [Follow LIVE Coverage of 2020 Tokyo Olympics]
However, the health ministry official said only those persons who have tested negative in the saliva-based test would be allowed to board the flight before going to India.
In addition, all those returning from Tokyo will be re-tested upon landing in India.
“Only asymptomatic persons should be allowed to board the flight.
“However, the delegation will have to be re-tested on arrival and will be allowed to leave the airport after giving samples that they will need to self-monitor their health for 14 days,” the health ministry said. Letter communication to Sports Ministry.
Earlier in the day, in a letter addressed to Sports Secretary Ravi Mittal, Batra said that since the Olympic contingent members have been fully vaccinated and tested on a regular basis in Tokyo, they have received RT-PCR negative test reports. Exempted from the requirement to show. while returning to the country.
“Our humble request … is to allow athletes, officials, IOA representatives, NSF officials/representatives and media, who are returning from Tokyo and who have a recognition card on the basis of which Japan has granted them entry .
Japan, be allowed to enter India back without RT PCR test and report,” Batra said.
As per the Tokyo Olympics COVID-19 protocol, athletes undergo antigen tests everyday and those who return positive or have values close to infection are subjected to RT PCR tests. Also, athletes are required to leave Tokyo within 48 hours of the end of their event.
India’s entire contingent was fully vaccinated against COVID-19 before leaving for the Tokyo Olympics and Batra said this should be kept in mind.
“You are well aware that all the athletes, all the officials (IOA and NSF) are: 1. Double vaccination, 2. Did 2 RT PCR tests before going to Tokyo, 3. Each member of the team, is representative of IOA and NSF : Every person is being tested in Tokyo everyday for COVID with Sylvia test till they go back to India,” he said.
“Getting RTPCR tests done in Tokyo or outside Tokyo is a very difficult task. The paperwork here is perfect but in practice there is a lot of confusion and things are very difficult to obtain.”
Batra wrote to the Japanese counterparts requesting the government to allow the Indian contingent to take off from Tokyo without any COVID-19 test.
The weightlifting contingent will leave for India from Tokyo on Monday after Mirabai Chanu won a historic silver medal in the women’s 49kg event.
Batra said that the airlines coming to India from Japan are Air India, Vistara, All Nippon Airlines and Japan Airlines.
“All the four airlines are also requested to provide information to allow everyone to fly without RT-PCR test and report.”
India fielded its largest contingent of 127 athletes at the Tokyo Olympics, including the highest female representation of 56.
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