Health Ministry Eases COVID-19 Guidelines, Drops RT-PCR Testing For International Flyers

New Delhi: As the COVID-19 case witnessed a steady decline, the Union Health Ministry has relaxed COVID-19 guidelines for international visitors and has decided to drop the earlier requirement for RT-PCR based testing of a random two per cent subset of international travellers. The new guidelines come into effect from midnight of July 20. The government note said,

The earlier requirements for RT-PCR based testing of a random 2 per cent subset of international travellers to India now stands dropped

However, the earlier advice for precautionary measures will be followed in the context of COVID-19 by airlines as well as international travellers shall continue to apply. The updated guidelines have been made available on the official website of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare official website. The official statement mentioned,

The Ministry of Health & Family Welfare continues to follow the COVID-19 scenario closely

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India reported 49 fresh covid-19 cases in the last 24 hours, with the active caseload at 1,464, according to an update by the health ministry on Wednesday.

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NDTV – Dettol have been working towards a clean and healthy India since 2014 via the Banega Swachh India initiative, which is helmed by Campaign Ambassador Amitabh Bachchan. The campaign aims to highlight the inter-dependency of humans and the environment, and of humans on one another with the focus on One Health, One Planet, One Future – Leaving No One Behind. It stresses on the need to take care of, and consider, everyone’s health in India – especially vulnerable communities – theLGBTQ population,indigenous people, India’s different tribes, ethnic and linguistic minorities, people with disabilities, migrants, geographically remote populations, gender and sexual minorities. In wake of the currentCOVID-19 pandemic, the need for WASH (Water,SanitationandHygiene) is reaffirmed as handwashing is one of the ways to prevent Coronavirus infection and other diseases. The campaign will continue to raise awareness on the same along with focussing on the importance of nutrition and healthcare for women and children, fightmalnutrition, mental wellbeing, self care, science and health,adolescent health & gender awareness. Along with the health of people, the campaign has realised the need to also take care of the health of the eco-system. Our environment is fragile due to human activity, which is not only over-exploiting available resources, but also generating immense pollution as a result of using and extracting those resources. The imbalance has also led to immense biodiversity loss that has caused one of the biggest threats to human survival – climate change. It has now been described as a “code red for humanity.” The campaign will continue to cover issues likeair pollution,waste management,plastic ban,manual scavengingand sanitation workers andmenstrual hygiene. Banega Swasth India will also be taking forward the dream of Swasth Bharat, the campaign feels that only a Swachh or clean India wheretoiletsare used andopen defecation free (ODF)status achieved as part of the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan launched byPrime Minister Narendra Modiin 2014, can eradicate diseases like diahorrea and the country can become a Swasth or healthy India.