Srinagar (NVI): Strengthening preventive measures against Covid-19 in the wake of the rising cases in some states, authorities in Kashmir today ordered that inbound travellers will not be allowed to leave the airport until their COVID-19 test report is received.
Test reports will be issued on the spot before letting the travellers go, the authorities said.
In a meeting convened as part of the preventive plan, the Incharge Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary has issued directions for putting in place required measures to avert spread in the Kashmir division.
He directed strengthening the preventive mechanism at the Srinagar airport instructing the Srinagar and Budgam district administrations to set up additional coronavirus testing facilities there and to enable quick receipt of test reports.
Furthermore, it has been decided that travellers whose reports come positive would be isolated in order to prevent transmission and spread of the infection amongst the local population.
Relevant protocol as given in the COVID-19 SOP manual will be followed in the case.
However, the meeting was informed that those with 48-hour-old RT-PCR negative reports from their departing cities will not have to undergo testing at the Srinagar airport.
The instructions also came in the wake of a recent trend within Kashmir which shows a greater number of infections in travellers compared to local cases of COVID-19 infections.
-CHK
