Airline Operators Asked to Ensure Mandatory RAT Test for All Incoming Passengers

Port Blair, April 15: The Deputy Commissioner, South Andaman District, Shri. Suneel Anchipaka, IAS and Shri. Ravi Kumar Singh, IPS, Superintendent of Police, South Andaman District convened a meeting with all the Airline Operators of Andaman & Nicobar Islands and stressed the need to take urgent action to curb the surge of COVID cases in the District. It was briefed that strict and vigilant protocols are required at the Veer Savarkar International Airport.

The A & N Administration has made full proof arrangements for compulsory Rapid Antigent Rest (RAT) of all incoming passengers at Veer Savarkar International Airport in addition to the mandatory RTPCR negative test report, which has to be carried while travelling to Andaman & Nicobar Islands.

The Airline Operators have been directed that RAT forms in prescribed format should be filled by the passenger before de-boarding the aircraft and the same has to be shown at the testing center before RAT test, which shall be ensured by the airlines concerned.

It was informed that for facilitating the inbound passengers at VSI airport, two COVID testing centres have been set up at School Line Senior Secondary School and the ITF ground, Dairy Farm wherein sufficient testing teams have been deployed. 

The Deputy Commissioner also emphasized that testing with focus needs to be ensured effectively and prompt isolation of those infected (If any) and tracing their close contacts needs to be ramped up while strengthening public and private health care resources. He further stressed that “Ensuring COVID appropriate behaviour for all age groups” is mandatory in the district.