In the wake of a new variant of SARS-CoV-2 virus detected in the United Kingdom and South Africa, Maharashtra government on Thursday issued the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to be implemented by concerned authorities with immediate effect for the passengers arriving from Europe, South Africa & Middle-East countries and flights coming through the airports of these countries.
A press release by the state government said,"No RTPCR test will be conducted for asymptomatic passengers, coming via flights from Europe, South Africa & Middle-East. They'll be taken to a paid institutional quarantine facility. RTPCR test will be conducted at passenger's cost between 5th-7th day at hotels"
"On arrival, no RTPCR test will be conducted for the other asymptomatic passengers who will be taken to a paid institutional quarantine facility (hotel). However, RTPCR test will be conducted between 5th to 7th day at the hotels the cost of which will have to be borne by the quarantined passengers. If the report os found to be negative, the concerned passengers would be discharged from the institutional quarantine with 7 days of mandatory home quarantine. If the test result is found positive, but the patient is asymptomatic, then he/she will be required to continue the institutional quarantine in the same hotel or in the COVID-19 hospital till 14 days", read the circular.