The airport is one entity that did not have to scramble to implement the governments order, conducts business as usual
A man gets tested at the airport on Wednesday. Pics/Anurag Ahire
Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport (CSMIA) appeared to be two steps ahead of the curve on Wednesday as COVID-19 testing rules for passengers from high-risk states came into effect. With testing facilities available since September 6, the airport was well-prepared for the latest rules.
RT-PCR tests were made available at the airport on September 6 as they were mandatory for international travellers with no test reports. They were made available to those departing and to non-travellers in October. "We have been well prepared because we have started everything well in advance," said an airport official. "Monday's SOPs didn't come as a shock as we did not have to scramble to arrange for services."
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Since the protocol is the same as the one for international passengers, the airport did not have to prepare anew
CSMIA has a total testing capacity of an average 3,000-5,000 passengers daily. Since the service started, 8,000 passengers — 6,910 men and 1,090 women — have taken the RT-PCR test and around 100 tested positive.
Also Read: Day 1 of COVID-19 testing: Shock and denial at stations, open season on roads
In November, the CSMIA started offering an 'enhanced experience' for passengers who opted for RT-PCR tests by giving them packaged unlimited delicacies and free WiFi service as they waited for the reports — which take around eight hours to come.
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