New COVID-19 strain: Mandatory RT-PCR test for those arriving in Mumbai from Europe, China, Middle East

Maria Van Kerkhove, the World Health Organization`s technical lead for COVID-19 on Tuesday said that C.1.2 variant has been found in at least six countries.

MUMBAI: After the discovery of a new strain of the COVID-19 variant C.1.2, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has made the RT-PCR test mandatory for international passengers arriving at the Mumbai airport from September 3. "RT-PCR test mandatory for international passengers arriving at Mumbai Airport from UK, Europe, Middle East, South Africa, Brazil, Bangladesh, Botswana, China, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe upon arrival at the airport at their own cost, in wake of the discovery of a new strain of COVID-19," the BMC said in a statement. As per the new guidelines of the government, the provision of institutional quarantine for international passengers travelling by air has been abolished.