Delhi airport in total chaos over Covid-19 testing

Furore as passports taken away

There was total chaos at Indira Gandhi International Airport here on Wednesday after passengers were not allowed to leave the airport premises without getting tested for novel coronavirus (Covid-19).

Passengers posted videos on the social media to show the chaos as they confronted security personnel after their passports were taken away after they had cleared immigration. People were seen arguing with the airport police and some even shouting at them to “shoot us” as the police said they coundn’t be allowed to go without medical checkups.

Later, the government posted advisories and guidelines in the public domain for all passengers to understand why each and every one has to be tested on entering India. Taking to Twitter, the Delhi airport issued an advisory asking people travelling from China, Iran, South Korea, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, UAE, Qatar, Oman and Kuwait to undergo compulsory quarantine for a minimum of 14 days.

Delhi airport also said after the medical checkup, all symptomatic passenegsr will be sent for isolation while the asymptomatic would be refereed to the state health team. Among asymptomatic passengers, those with high risk will be sent for 14-day quarantine while the rest will be allowed to go home after counselling. Passengers may also be stamped — Home Quarantine — as being done in Maharashtra.

The government also asked the civil aviation ministry to instruct the airport authorities to stagger the arrival of flights from Covid-19 affected areas so the flow of passengers is maintained for screening, and there is no crowding and delay in the medical screening.

Under the guidelines, passengers will arrive escorted by airline staff to APHO Health Counters for Initial Thermal Screening, where symptomatic passengers ■