In India negative RT-PCR will be required for the traveller coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from January 1. The Health Ministry in India is observing the Covid-19 patterns and announced that there might be a surge in new cases in India in the month of January. The Indian government and health ministry is taking all the measures in view of the recent outbreak of Covid-19 in China and other countries.

Health ministry is very active for any possible surge in cases in January based on the patterns observed during previous waves. There is a huge surge in Covid-19 cases in China and other countries possibly due to the BA.7 variant. 

Health ministry said that all the flyers from China and other four counties will have to show a negative RT-PCR test from January 1. 

The negative Covid-19 RT-PCR test will be mandatory for the flyers coming from China, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Thailand from January 1. 

According to Mandaviya “Flyers from these countries will have to upload their test reports on the government’s Air Suvidha portal before their departure.”

The Indian Government is taking all the measures amidst an increase in the Covid-19 cases in China and East Asian countries. Health ministry on Wednesday said that there might be a surge in the new cases in January based on the previous waves data patterns. But hospitalisation and deaths is unlikely due to previous immunity gained by the population.

“We have seen during the three previous waves that any surge reported in East Asian countries hits Europe in about 10 days, the Americas in another 10 days, and the Pacific island countries in another 10 days. The surge reaches India in 30 to 35 days. So, it is crucial that people stay cautious during the month of January,” Health ministry officials said.

Other countries like the US are taking measures to stop the spread of the new Covid-19 variant in their countries. All the travellers travelling to the US from China and other joining nations will have to come with the negative RT-PCR reports. This rule will take effect from January 5.

A US federal health official said "All air passengers two years and older originating from China will be required to get a test no more than two days before their departure from China, Hong Kong and Macau, and show a negative test result to the airlines upon departure."

India reported 188 new cases in the past 24 hours. Random testing of the international flyers is already in place from December 24 onwards. Nearly 6,000 passengers have been tested so far at the airports. According to the official, 39 positive cases were found during the random testing.