The Delhi Disaster Management Authority on Wednesday announced that said passengers arriving in Delhi from other states, particularly from states that are witnessing a surge in Covid-19 cases, will be randomly tested for Covid-19 from today at Delhi Airport, all railway stations, Inter-state Bus Terminals (ISBT) and other alighting points. "Those found positive for coronavirus will be mandatorily quarantined," it added.
The order said that passengers who are found positive for disease will be mandatorily quarantined either at home or a hospital for at least 10 days. The decision has been taken in wake of rising Covid-19 cases in the national capital.
The aviation regulator Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) on Tuesday, told airport operators to enhance surveillance at airports and levy spot fines against those not following Covid-19 protocols.
"Given increasing covid cases in the national capital, random COVID19 testing of arriving passengers to start from today at the airport. Passengers who are found positive to be mandatorily quarantined," the Delhi Airport said.
Delhi's Health Minister Satyendra Jain said that the state government will hike the testing to over 80,000 daily. The city government issued a directive for increasing 2020 beds in ICU wards in private hospitals for covid infected patients. There is just 25 per cent occupancy in private and government hospitals.
The decision has been taken amid the high spike in COVID-19 cases across the country, particularly Maharashtra, Punjab, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka and Gujarat.
Delhi on Tuesday registered 992 fresh coronavirus cases. The low number of cases could be credited to fewer COVID-19 tests conducted on Monday on account of Holi. The city had reported 1,904 cases on Monday, 1,881 cases on Sunday, 1,558 cases on Saturday, 1,534 cases on Friday, 1,515 cases on Thursday, 1,254 cases on Wednesday and 1,101 cases on last Tuesday.
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In January, Delhi's total caseload stood at over 6.25 lakh and the total casualties were 10,557.
A report said that the next two-three months could be challenging, adding that the situation can be kept under control if vaccination is made available for more people and coronavirus protocols are strictly followed.