International passengers taking their flights from Delhi airport will soon be able to get tested for Covid-19 just before their departure, the Genestrings Diagnostic Center, which operates the testing laboratory at the airport, said on Saturday.
The Covid-19 testing facility, which began operating on September 12 at Delhi Airport, is currently available for international arrivals only.
Earlier in the day, Genestrings issued a press release saying: “The (test) facility has now been extended to air travelers departing from India for other countries. However, the company subsequently revised its press release, saying that the test facility will “soon” be expanded to air travelers departing from India.
“In particular, international travel rules require passengers traveling from one country to another to submit negative Covid reports,” he added.
The laboratory uses RT-PCR tests and provides reports within 4-6 hours. “The test is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is priced at Rs 2,400 as ordered by the Delhi government,” the statement said.
“As more people embark on international travel, the Delhi airport authorities felt the need to provide the testing facilities for outbound passengers as well,” said Rajat Arora, director of the Genestrings Diagnostic Center.
Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) started the Covid-19 testing facility on September 12 in the multi-level car parking area of Terminal 3 in collaboration with Genestrings Diagnostic Center which is a Yashoda Hospitals group company .
Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to the lockdown caused by the coronavirus.
However, special international passenger flights have been operating in India under the Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble agreements formed between India and other countries since July. India started scheduled domestic passenger flights on May 25 after a two-month gap due to the coronavirus pandemic.
(This story was posted from a cable agency feed with no text changes.)
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