PANAJI: The state government on Friday conducted an RT-PCR test that was mandatory for all international tourists who reached the cave with the sea or air.
Health Minister Vishwajit Rane said all international travelers, including those from non-categorized “high-risk” countries, will be tested on arrival given the increasing Covid-19 case.
“We will test all international passengers on arrival, traveling from high-risk countries and non-high risks,” Rane said.
Previously, Rane said, only 2% of passengers traveling from the “not risky” country were targeted by RT PCR testing.
“The Goa government has made decisions in the public interest to test all international passengers,” he said.
The government has approved restrictions on fast RT PCR tests at Rs 1,500, until further review.
On Friday, the first Charter of Russia landed with 515 passengers, and two of them were tested positively on arrival.
They were suspected of being an omicron variant carrier from Covid-19 and had been transferred to the government-managed isolation facility, and their samples were sent to the genome sequencing.
Also, a traveler from England, who experienced a RT PCR test on the eight day of his arrival, was tested positively and sent to isolation facilities.
The sample is also sent for genome sequencing.
All international travelers from high-risk countries must be in home isolation if they test negatively on arrival, but must test the eighth day.
If the results of the test are negative, it still needs to be in the isolation of the house and monitor itself, further testing is not needed.
Goa is scheduled to receive a charter from Russia every ten days, while three charter flights a week from Kazakhstan.
Ernest Dias, Chief Operating Officer at Sita Travels, most of which handle Russian travelers, say that with restrictions on the spot they are not sure whether the charter will come on schedule.
He said that he was afraid of canceling.
Covid: All int’l passengers to Goa will be tested on arrival
