Landed in Mumbai? Now you can take an RT-PCR test at Mumbai Airport and skip the institutional home quarantine that is otherwise mandatory for all passengers not carrying a negative test result. After Delhi, Mumbai is the second city to get an express COVID-19 test facility on the airport premises. While the service is only for arrivals, it will be rolled out for all departures shortly. The express testing facility is located near the exit gates of CSMIA’s Terminal-2 and here’s how it works:
- You either need to register at the help desk at the arrival terminal or make an online booking on the ICMR-approved Suburban Diagnostics laboratory website.
- You will have to pay ₹1,600 for the testing available 24*7
- While you wait for the results, you would be guided to a waiting lounge with special F&B arrangements. You can also opt to book a room at the airport hotel, of course, with the approval of the state authorities.
- You will receive a digital as well as a physical copy of the test report in under 8 hours. So be sure to book your connecting flight within a gap of 8-12 hours.
- You can proceed for your final destinations if you test negative. You will also receive a stamp indicating a home quarantine by the state officials.
- If your test results are positive, you will be transferred by the state authorities to a designated institution. Air India To Ensure Crew’s COVID-19 Tests Are Negative
Difference Between COVID-19 Swab Tests And RT-PCR Test
A swab test for COVID-19 is done by extracting sputum from nose or throat. It is then tested for the presence of coronavirus’ tell-tale genes. The real-time polymerase chain reaction, on the other hand, is based on PCR, that repeatedly copies and amplifies the genetic fragments of the virus.
The RT-PCR test starts with a swab taken from an individual’s throat or nose. Coronaviruses have RNA as their genetic material. The next step is the use of primers and a fluorescent dye which acts as the probe. The patient sample, probe and primer are together left in the PCR machine for the binding. A fluorescent signal marks the presence of the virus. Drive-Through COVID-19 Tests Start In Chandigarh.
As per current rules, all International passengers landing at Mumbai airport will have to undergo seven days of institutional quarantine and seven days of home quarantine. However, you can now be exempted from the institutional quarantine if you pre-register and produce a negative COVID report taken no longer than 96 hours before the journey. There is no clarity right now if the seven days of home quarantine would still be necessary if your report tests negative. The new test will be another way for passengers to bypass the 7-day institutional quarantine.