COVID-19 negative certificates must for travellers from three South Asian countries

TDT | Manama

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Bahrain yesterday tightened its COVID-19 protocols for travellers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh by imposing additional norms against the backdrop of a spike in coronavirus (COVID-19) infections.

The National Medical Taskforce for Combating the Coronavirus said it is now mandatory for all travellers flying in from these countries to present a COVID-19 negative certificate upon entry.

The PCR examination result should contain a QR code taken before 48 hours from the time of departure, said the task force. The new requirement comes into effect, starting Tuesday.

The National Medical Team also stressed the previously announced procedures for all arrivals through Bahrain International Airport. Similar measures are in force against travellers from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh in New Zealand, the UK, the US and Singapore.

A day before, the CEO of Government hospitals, Dr Ahmed Mohamed Al Ansari, had announced new protocols for health workers flying to or returning from India, Pakistan and Bangladesh.

The circular, signed by Dr Ahmed Mohamed Al Ansari, circulating on Social Media, and obtained by Tribune, said that travel for healthcare workers at government hospitals to these destinations are only on emergency leaves.

Returning health workers should remain in quarantine for ten days and take PCR tests on arrival, day five and day ten. The days spend in quarantine will be deducted from annual leave, the circular said.

Healthcare workers arriving from other destinations should follow national protocol by testing on arrival, day five and day ten, with five days of quarantine before returning to work.

The measure, Dr Al Ansari said, is in response to the recent surge in cases and concerns of a double mutant strain which is highly transmissible and causing potential vaccine failure.

BD 36 for PCR According to Bahrain airport, all passengers arriving in Bahrain must take a series of PCR tests at their own expense, costing BD36.

The first test will take place on arrival, and the second will take place five days later. The third and final test will take place on the 10th day of your stay in Bahrain.

Passengers should also sign a self-isolation agreement to remain in quarantine at their residence until their arrival test results are available.

Besides, passengers must adhere to social distancing measures at the terminal. Footprint stickers are in place to remind people to keep their distance. Wearing face masks is mandatory for all passengers and staff at the airport.

PCR test must: Gulf Air

All passengers booked to travel from India to Bahrain should carry RT-PCR (Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction) test result taken from ICMR approved labs with machine-readable QR code, said Gulf Air in a statement.

Test results should be from samples taken not more than 48 hours before departure.

Gulf Air warns that it will not accept passengers without an RT-PCR report with a machine-readable QR code on flights between India to Bahrain.