Amid the coronavirus crisis, Maharashtra has announced a new set of rules in the middle of today.
A negative Covid report from an RT-PCR test will be needed for people traveling to Maharashtra from Delhi-NCR, Gujarat, Rajasthan and Goa, states that are witnessing an increase in coronavirus cases. Maharashtra, the state hardest hit by Covid but now on the mend, issued detailed guidelines tonight to monitor people entering from these states and prevent a relapse.
The rules will cover passengers on both flights and trains, who must show negative test results before boarding. In the case of flights, the test must be carried out 72 hours before landing. In the case of trains, the time is 96 hours and it will apply to trains that stop or end in these states.
For those who have not yet taken a test, airports will have test centers, where passengers must be screened on their own before they are allowed to proceed.
In the case of trains, passengers who have not had RT-PCR tests will be tested for symptoms at the stations when they get off. If they have any symptoms, they will need rapid antigen tests.
In the case of road trips, passengers in the affected states will be screened for symptoms, including the body. “Passengers without symptoms will be allowed entry. Passengers with symptoms will have the option to return and go home to recover,” the notice said.
Earlier today, Cabinet Minister Vijay Waddetiwar said the state will respond to a call on whether it would allow flights, trains and road trips to Delhi within eight days, at which point existing blocking rules will expire.
Delhi currently has the highest number of fresh infections almost every day. By earlier this month, the number had crossed the 8000 mark. Yesterday, the city-state recorded 6,746 cases over a 24-hour period.
Maharashtra, which has recorded the highest number of cases since the pandemic began, recorded 5,753 cases.
Earlier today, the Supreme Court requested status reports from four states, including Delhi and Gujarat, saying “worse things will happen in December if the states are not well prepared.” Maharashtra is also on the list.
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