Negative RT-PCR report mandatory for all inter-state travellers to Bengaluru: Health Minister K Sudhakar
From April, all travellers coming from any State into Bengaluru must carry a recent RT-PCR negative report for Covid-19.
FollowAttributing the sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases in Bengaluru to people with travel history, Karnataka’s Health Minister K Sudhakar on Thursday said a RT-PCR negative report will be mandatory for those coming into the capital city from all states by any mode of transport.
From April, all travellers coming from any State into Bengaluru must carry a recent RT-PCR negative report for Covid-19. The rule had so far been limited to people from Maharashtra, Kerala, Punjab, and Chandigarh.
“With cases likely to increase further in the coming days and after observing that interstate travellers account for over 60 per cent of cases in Bengaluru, it has been decided that all such persons have to arrive with a negative RT-PCR report from April 1,” Sudhakar said. He added that the rule will be applicable to those, including permanent residents of the city, who arrive in the city from any place outside Karnataka.
It will apply to only those who come to Bengaluru to stay and is not for transit passengers who are travelling to another destination. It will come into effect from April 1, said the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike in a press release.
The move comes a day after the Union Health Ministry identified Bengaluru Urban as the only city outside Maharashtra to be among the ten with the highest active Covid-19 caseload. According to figures released by the state government, the Karnataka capital reported 11,520 active cases, amounting to nearly 70% of the state’s total caseload.
There was no clarity about some issues — what if an inter-state passenger arrived in other parts of the state and then travelled to Bengaluru; should a vaccinated person also get an RT-PCR test done before travelling to Bengaluru and what would happen if a traveller landed in Bengaluru without an RT-PCR report.
These proposals have not gone down well with BJP leaders as they were reportedly announced without consultation with Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa or other cabinet colleagues. Moreover, the announcement came ahead of elections in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal where BJP is trying to gain a foothold. Sources pointed out that Bengaluru is home to a significant chunk of people who hail from these states and such restrictions could force many to spike their plans to travel and vote.
