The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) in its latest advisory for COVID-19 testing during the second wave of the pandemic recommends removing the mandatory RT-PCR testing for interstate travelers.
The recommendation of ICMR has been welcomedย by travel and tourism professionals and travelers across the country.
the ICMR in its latest advisory recommended that “The need for RT-PCR test in healthy individuals undertaking inter-state domestic travel may be completely removed to reduce the load on laboratories.”
All asymptomatic domestic travelers must follow Covid-19 appropriate behaviors, it further added.
๐๐๐๐ ๐ข๐ฌ๐ฌ๐ฎ๐๐ฌ ๐๐๐ฏ๐ข๐ฌ๐จ๐ซ๐ฒ ๐๐จ๐ซ ๐๐๐๐๐-๐๐ ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐๐ฎ๐ซ๐ข๐ง๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฌ๐๐๐จ๐ง๐ ๐ฐ๐๐ฏ๐ ๐จ๐ ๐ญ๐ก๐ ๐ฉ๐๐ง๐๐๐ฆ๐ข๐. @MoHFW_INDIA @PIB_India @COVIDNewsByMIB @MIB_India @ pic.twitter.com/kkY2hacpWW
โ ICMR (@ICMRDELHI) May 4, 2021
However, the response of the state governments to the recommendation is awaited.
The RT-PCR tests are considered more reliable than the rapid antigen tests and until now, people traveling in the country were required to produce negative RT-PCR reports to cross the borders.
As of now, a total of 24 states are required a negative RT-PCR tests report for visitors, especially those who are arriving by air.
The ICMR also advised skipping the RT-PCR test if a Covid-19 patient has completed 10 days of quarantine and did not report fever in the last three days.
“RT PCR test must not be repeated in any individual who has tested positive once either by RAT or RT PCR,” it also said.
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