Chennai: After the Union Health Ministry issued an alert about the risk presented by a new Covid-19 version, the Tamil Nadu government has instructed that screening at Chennai International Airport and other airports in the state be increased.

Ma Subramanian, the state's health minister, stated, "The state health secretary issued directions to all district collectors to act in accordance with the rules after receiving a warning from the Union Health Ministry. This includes testing tourists from specific countries and according to Covid-19 guidelines. Botswana, South Africa, and Hong Kong travellers would be required to undergo mandatory tests and, if necessary, quarantine."

In a statement, state health secretary J. Radhakrishnan noted that Tamil Nadu was the first state to make a negative RT-PCR test report mandatory for passengers from any country. He said that testing on arrival is necessary for nations such as South Africa, Botswana, and Hong Kong, and that RT-PCR tests will be enforced by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine.

In addition to Botswana, South Africa, and Hong Kong, the state health authority has begun testing travellers arriving from Singapore, Brazil, China, Mauritius, Bangladesh, and New Zealand.

Covid Roundup: India logs fresh 8,318 cases; active cases falls to 1.07 la

Karnataka: 99 more test Covid positive in Dharwad medical college

Maharashtra govt to give Rs 50,000 ex-gratia to kin of Covid-19 victims