Karnataka mandates COVID test for those arriving from Kerala

The Karnataka state government has announced strict COVID-19 testing measures for those arriving from Kerala, in view of rising cases in the neighbouring state. As per the news reports, all those arriving from Kerala to Karnataka will be required to show proof of a negative RT-PCR certificate that is not older than 72 hours.

Reportedly, the state government also stated that all international passengers arriving in Karnataka, will also be required to produce a RT-PCR negative certificate, and follow COVID-19 protocols, irrespective of their COVID-19 vaccination status.
Reports also have it that now it is mandatory for travellers arriving from Brazil and South Africa to Karnataka to undergo RT-PCR tests, and will also have to undergo 14 days quarantine in view of two more variants of COVID-19 being identified in these countries.
Also, as per the health department, samples of those in institutional quarantine would be sent to the National Institute of Mental Health and Neurosciences for genome sequencing.
As such, now passengers would have to mandatorily undergo the RT-PCR test on arrival at the Bengaluru airport, irrespective of their COVID certificate they have for the test they took before boarding the flights.

Also, after undergoing 14 days of quarantine, the patient would be discharged, and then subject to two samples tested through RT-PCR, taken 24 hours apart.

Further, if there is a cluster of five or more cases of COVID -19 in hostels, or educational institutions or residential areas; these places will be declared as ‘containment zones’ by the local health authorities and special surveillance measures will be initiated.