India on Thursday made RT-PCR test compulsory for passengers arriving from 7 more nations, including South Africa, Bangladesh and China, owing to a rise in new Covid-19 strains. The Health Ministry imposed restrictions on passengers from additional countries, citing the reports of new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and the rising number of "Variants of Concern (VOCs) and Variants of Interest (Vols) globally".

The Ministry said to the list of UK, EU and Middle East more countries including South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. International travellers from all these countries would now need RTPCR negative reports to get on flights to India and RTPCR testing upon arrival.

"Considering the reports of new mutations in SARS-CoV-2 and rising number of Variants of Concern and Variants of Interest globally, the following countries have been added in the scope of part B of MoHFW's Guidelines on International Arrival, in addition to existing Countries in "Part-B" i.e. United Kingdom, Europe and the Middle East," Bhushan said in a statement. The countries including South Africa, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. International travellers from all these countries would now need RTPCR negative reports to get on flights to India and RTPCR testing upon arrival here," it added.

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