In response to an increase in the count of COVID-19 cases in the state, Jammu airport has amended its restrictions for passengers. According to recent reports, officials at the Jammu airport have decided to intensify testing of unvaccinated travellers, including Vaishno Devi pilgrims.
Additionally, the new COVID-19 guidelines of Jammu airport insist that all overseas passengers should be subject to RT-PCR tests at the airport. Only fully vaccinated travellers are allowed to leave the airport. All passengers, including Vaishno Devi pilgrims, are made to take COVID-19 tests.
“Travellers can only leave the airport if they’re fully vaccinated. Otherwise, everyone, including the Vaishno Devi pilgrims, has to get tested,” said Sanjeev Kumar Garg, Director, Jammu Airport.
Passengers who test positive upon arrival, according to reports, are taken to the DRDO hospital. There are 50% RT-PCR tests and 50% Rapid Antigen Tests at the airport (RAT). Airport authorities are conducting both RT-PCR and RAT testing for persons who do not have a vaccination certificate.
Every day, the airport authorities are conducting between 200 and 250 tests.
Jitendra Singh, the Union Minister, has recommended that the local government has to set up a dashboard and a public helpline to boost public confidence. Around 542 new cases of COVID-19 were recorded in the Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir, with one fatality. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus in the state, 4534 individuals have died as a result of it.
The authorities may amend the COVID-19 protocols based on changes in the COVID-19 cases in the Union Territory. The passengers who are planning to visit Jammu and Kashmir shall keep a tab of the government website before planning the trips.
Heavy snowfall hits flight operations at Srinagar
Meanwhile, scheduled flights were cancelled at Srinagar airport due to heavy snowfall. Snowfall started late on Friday and continued at most places across Kashmir valley.
The scheduled flights got resumed yesterday. However, there are still issues of poor visibility. According to the authorities, the visibility has been reduced to less than 600 metres at the airport. Some airlines have stopped taking new bookings for the Srinagar sector to clear the backlogs of flight cancellations over the last few days.