Port Blair, Apr 26: Mr. Kuldeep Rai Sharma, Member of Parliament, A&N Islands has requested the Chief Secretary, A&N Administration to consider for extension of validity period of RT-PCR report for 72 hours in place of 48 hours for the inbound passengers coming from mainland since the inbound passengers are unable to get RT-PCR report at mainland having validity of 48 hrs for their journey to Port Blair.
He informed that the Corana cases in all the States at mainland are increased and the designated medical labs for COVID -19 tests in the respective States including the staff attached with their labs are already pre-occupied.
Therefore our Islanders while returning from mainland are facing hardship and unable get RT-PCR (Covid-19) test report from the designated labs having validity of 48 hours for their journey to Port Blair as the Covid test reports are receiving after 2-3 days of the testing time and the validity period of 48 hours for journey is expiring in the meantime.
However, he emphasis that since the Administration is already conducting Covid test (Antigen Rapid Test) for all the inbound passengers and compulsory home quarantined for 07 days irrespective of their RT-PCR negative report on their arrival at Port Blair Airport, therefore, he requested that the validity period of COVID test (RT-PCR) report for inbound passengers may be extended for 72 hours in place of 48 hours.
