Delhi Airport's Covid Testing: What To Expect?

is delhi airport doing covid test

Delhi Airport has set up 20 dedicated COVID-19 testing counters for international travellers arriving from at-risk countries who have pre-booked their mandatory test. This was done to ease the chaos and crowding at the terminal following the implementation of new travel guidelines. Travellers from at-risk countries are required to undergo an RT-PCR or Rapid PCR test and wait for their results before leaving the airport or boarding a connecting flight. Countries in Europe, including the UK, South Africa, and Brazil, have been placed in this category by the Union Health Ministry.

Characteristics Values
Number of counters for COVID-19 testing 20
Countries requiring mandatory testing Europe, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Israel
Testing requirements for travellers from "at-risk" countries PCR test
Testing requirements for travellers from other countries 2% of passengers selected randomly
Cost of Rapid PCR test Rs. 3,500
Cost of RT-PCR test Rs. 500
Time taken for Rapid PCR test results 60-90 minutes
Time taken for RT-PCR test results 6 hours

shunhotel

Delhi Airport has 20 counters for international flyers who have pre-booked a COVID test

In December 2021, Delhi Airport set up 20 dedicated counters for international flyers who have pre-booked a mandatory COVID-19 test. This was in response to complaints of chaos and crowding at the terminal following the implementation of new travel guidelines. The new guidelines, issued by the Union Health Ministry, state that all passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries must undergo a PCR test, and a small percentage of passengers from other countries will be selected at random to take the test.

Countries in Europe, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Israel, have been placed in the "at-risk" category. Passengers arriving from these countries can choose to take either a Rapid PCR test or an RT-PCR test. The Rapid PCR test costs Rs 3,500, with results available in 60-90 minutes, while the RT-PCR test costs Rs 500, with results taking around 6 hours. Passengers can pre-book and pay for their test online from their originating airport.

The Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) is also facilitating RT-PCR tests for 2% of international arriving passengers who are not from "at-risk" countries. Flyers are advised to check the latest COVID-19 precautionary guidelines and announcements at the airport. This includes wearing a face mask, maintaining hand hygiene and physical distancing, and installing the Arogya Setu app on their mobile phones.

shunhotel

All passengers from 'at-risk' countries must undergo a PCR test

Delhi airport has set up 20 dedicated counters for international flyers who have pre-booked their mandatory COVID-19 test. This move comes after travellers complained about chaos and crowding at the terminal following the implementation of new travel guidelines.

All passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries must undergo a PCR test, and two per cent of passengers arriving from other countries will have to take the test on a random basis. The PCR test costs Rs 500, and the results are available in around 6 hours. Passengers can also opt for the Rapid PCR test, which costs Rs 3,500, and the results are available in 60-90 minutes.

Passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries must pre-book their test and can do so by making an online payment from the originating airport. Countries in Europe, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Israel, have been placed in the "at-risk" category by the Union Health Ministry.

Passengers will have to wait for their test results before leaving the airport or boarding a connecting flight. This measure ensures that potential infections are identified and contained effectively. The dedicated counters aim to streamline the testing process, providing clear instructions and efficient service to facilitate a smooth journey for travellers.

shunhotel

Two per cent of passengers arriving from other countries must also be tested

In December 2021, Delhi airport authorities set up 20 dedicated counters for passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries who had pre-booked their mandatory COVID-19 test. This was done to ease the chaos and crowding at the terminal following the implementation of new travel guidelines.

According to the Union Health Ministry's guidelines, all passengers coming from ""at-risk" countries must undergo a PCR test, and two per cent of passengers arriving from other countries must also be tested on a random basis. The "at-risk" category includes countries in Europe, such as the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Israel.

Passengers can opt for either a Rapid PCR test or an RT-PCR test. The Rapid PCR test costs Rs 3,500 and the results are available in 60-90 minutes. The RT-PCR test costs Rs 500 and the results are available in around 6 hours. Passengers must wait for the results before leaving the airport or boarding a connecting flight.

To ease the booking process, Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has allowed for online payment to pre-book the test from the originating airport.

Airport Sundays: Are They Always Busy?

You may want to see also

shunhotel

Flyers can pre-book and pay for their test online

In response to complaints of chaos and crowding at the Delhi Airport following the implementation of new travel guidelines, the airport authorities have set up 20 dedicated counters for international flyers who have pre-booked their mandatory COVID-19 test. This measure aims to streamline the testing process and alleviate the issues caused by long queues and a lack of clear instructions.

Passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries must undergo a PCR test, with the option of choosing between the Rapid PCR test and the standard RT-PCR test. Countries in Europe, including the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore, and Israel, are classified as "at-risk" by the Union Health Ministry. The Rapid PCR test costs Rs 3,500, with results available in 60-90 minutes, while the RT-PCR test costs Rs 500, with results taking around 6 hours. Passengers can opt for either test based on their preference for speed or cost-effectiveness.

To further enhance convenience, the Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL), in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has enabled online payment and pre-booking options for the tests. This feature allows passengers to book their test from the originating airport itself, simplifying the process and saving time upon arrival.

It is important to note that, according to Union Health Ministry guidelines, passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries must wait for their test results before leaving the airport or boarding a connecting flight. Additionally, two per cent of passengers arriving from countries other than those classified as "at-risk" will be selected randomly for testing. These measures underscore the Indian government's commitment to taking all possible precautions to ensure the safety of international travellers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

shunhotel

Travellers complained of chaos and crowding at the terminal

The Delhi airport authorities set up 20 dedicated counters for passengers arriving from "at-risk" countries and those who have pre-booked their mandatory COVID-19 test. This step was taken after several flyers complained of chaos and crowding at the terminal following the implementation of new travel guidelines. The Union Health Ministry's guidelines state that all passengers coming from ""at-risk" countries must undergo a PCR test, and two per cent of passengers arriving from other countries would have to take the test randomly.

The new travel rules caused long queues at Delhi's Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, with no social distancing, causing a harrowing time for flyers. A Twitter user tagged Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya and Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in a tweet, praising the government's efforts in COVID-19 management and international flyer testing. However, they also highlighted the increasing chaos at the Delhi airport, with a lack of proper guidance, information, and social distancing. Another Twitter user shared pictures of long queues, expressing frustration about the time spent in queues despite paying taxes and airport charges.

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram also commented on the situation, stating, "As I feared and warned. Total confusion and crowding in airports." Similar sentiments were echoed by travellers, who faced challenges due to a lack of clear instructions and proper queues for RT-PCR testing, emigration, and luggage collection.

To ease the RT-PCR/Rapid PCR booking process, DIAL, in collaboration with the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, enabled online payment options for pre-booking tests from the originating airport. This allowed passengers from ""at-risk" countries to choose between Rapid PCR and RT-PCR tests. Rapid PCR costed Rs 3,500 with results in 60-90 minutes, while RT-PCR costed Rs 500 with results in around 6 hours.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, Covid testing is available at Delhi Airport.

Testing is available for all international travellers arriving from 'at-risk' countries and two per cent of travellers arriving from other countries.

The 'at-risk' category includes countries in Europe, such as the UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Zimbabwe, Mauritius, New Zealand, Hong Kong, Singapore and Israel.

Tests can be pre-booked and paid for online from the originating airport.

Written by
Reviewed by
Share this post
Print
Did this article help you?

Leave a comment