Indian state updates quarantine protocol for travellers from 'at-risk' countries

AFP (File Picture)

The Indian state of Maharashtra has announced a mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine for all passengers flying in from "countries at-risk".

They will also be required to take three RT-PCR tests - on the second, fourth and seventh days after arrival.

The decision, which will come into effect immediately, was made late Tuesday after six international passengers from "countries at-risk" tested positive for COVID-19.

According to the state's health authority, all six passengers were "either asymptomatic or mildly symptomatic", with their samples sent for genome sequencing. 

Meanwhile, all domestic travellers flying into Maharashtra will have to present a negative RT-PCR test report with 48-hour validity.

The list of "at-risk" countries includes European countries, the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Hong Kong and Israel.

More from International News

  • Thousands of Australians without power as cyclone Alfred hits

    Hundreds of thousands of people in Australia's Queensland state were without power on Sunday after Alfred, a downgraded tropical cyclone, brought damaging winds and heavy rains, sparking flood warnings.

  • Israeli airstrike kills two in southern Gaza

    An Israeli airstrike killed two Palestinians in Rafah in the southern Gaza Strip on Saturday, medical sources said, as mediators pushed ahead with talks to extend a shaky 42-day ceasefire agreed in January between Israel and Hamas.

  • 12 people injured in Toronto pub shooting

    Toronto Police said early on Saturday they were searching for three male suspects in a shooting that injured at least 12 people at a pub in the Canadian city.

  • Cyclone Alfred downgraded as millions stay indoors

    Ex-tropical cyclone Alfred lingered off the south-east Australian coast on Saturday and forecasters said Brisbane is likely to miss the worst of the storm, a relief for millions of residents in the region who have been staying indoors.