Delhi airport to get India's 1st on-site COVID-19 test lab

To test incoming international passengers the countrys first onsite Covid testing facility is coming up at the capitals Indira Gandhi International Airport and will provide RTPCR test results within six hoursThe facility to be set up by a private laboratory empanelled by the Delhi government for Covid testing is expected to be operational by midSeptemberGenestrings Diagnostic Centre which will establish the 3500 square metre facility at the multilevel car parking of Terminal 3 said that the results of samples collected at the facility will be declared within 46 hours and until then the passengers will be isolated in the waiting lounge or may opt to stay in a hotelIn case of a positive result the passenger concerned will be processed in line with applicable Indian Council of Medical Research ICMR protocols by the authorities while those testing negative can continue their onward air journey it addedMinistry of Health and Family Welfare guidelines mandate international passengers arriving in India and having RTPCR negative certificate would be exempt from institutional quarantine by states and will be allowed onward air journeyThe government in an advisory issued in August mandated that incoming travellers may seek exemption from institutional quarantine if they have a negative report from a RTPCR test conducted within 96 hours before the journeyGenestrings Diagnostic Centre Director Rajat Arora said that the facility would ensure incoming passengers from abroad who could not arrange for a report on their Covid status can get it at the first airport upon reaching IndiaBesides residents of Delhi may choose to get tested at the airport laboratory and wait for the results before entering the city he addedThis is the first time such an arrangement is coming up at any airport in the entire country We will test the incoming passengers at the airport and the reports will be ready within 46 hours which will ensure that they are tested before entering the city as well as for onward journey RTPCR is a gold standard way of testing for Covid19 and will be a gamechanger for the safety of incoming passengers We are very proud of this collaboration and will ensure a successful implementation he addedThe testing facility and infrastructure at T3 has been readied by Delhi International Airport Ltd DIAL a joint venture of corporate firms and the Airports Authority of India handling operations management and development of the IGIA since 2006 with all the necessary audits and approvals from the governing bodiesDIALs CEO Videh Kumar Jaipuriar said Delhi airport continues to be a hub for international travellers even during the pandemic The pilot initiative has been taken to ensure testing of all arriving international transfer passengers scheduled to board a domestic connecting flight postarrival at Delhi Airport The Covid19 testing laboratory at Delhi Airport has been adequately equipped for testing and sample collection that will be conducted in compliance with the protocols established by the ICMR and the NABLKeep scrolling to read more newsCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get latest updates MidDay is now on Telegram Click here to join our channel middayinfomedialtd and stay updated with the latest newsThis story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed agencies Midday accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability trustworthiness reliability and data of the text Midday managementmiddaycom reserves the sole right to alter delete or remove without notice the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever