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Posted: May 10, 2020 6:19:22 AM
Air India is operating 64 repatriation flights for a week starting May 7, when India launched a mass evacuation plan earlier this week. (Proceedings)
Air India crew members, residing at Gautam Buddh Nagar and involved in flight operations to evacuate Indian nationals trapped abroad due to the blockade, can return home from Delhi only after the results of their COVID-19 tests are negative, authorities said Saturday.
The crew would be screened by COVID-19 via the real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction or the RT-PCR test, considered a gold standard but a costly and time consuming process compared to rapid tests against the body, and put back into service if fit, officials said.
The Gautam Buddh Nagar police had requested that the national carrier’s management accommodate their crew members residing in Noida and Greater Noida in Delhi during the Center’s “Vande Bharat Mission”.
The request was made because Gautam Buddh Nagar, in western Uttar Pradesh, falls into the “Red Zone” and the movement of the flight crew back and forth could increase the risk of COVID-19 infection, officials said.
“A letter from Air India CMD dated May 8 says that Air India is fully implementing crew member’s health protocols. The RT-PCR test will be performed and they will stay in a hotel in Delhi until the test results are received. Crew members with negative test results will be able to go to their residence in Gautam Buddh Nagar, ”said additional Gautam Buddh Nagar Police Commissioner Sriparna Ganguly.
“The letter further states that the crew members’ RT-PCR test will be performed on the fifth day and members without symptoms and negative test results will be sent to the next service,” added the officer.
She said the movement of Air India crew members from Gautam Buddh Nagar to Delhi will continue according to the rules so there is no problem on rescue flights.
The ACP said that all district police officers have been informed and instructed to ensure strict compliance with the regulations. Air India is operating 64 repatriation flights for a week starting May 7, when India launched a mass evacuation plan earlier this week.
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