Panaji: With the domestic flights scheduled to land at Goa Airport from Monday, State Health Minister Vishwajit Rane has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to allow them to conduct antibody testing of the passenger upon their arrival.
Goa’s lone airport at Dabolim in South Goa is scheduled to handle 15 flights on Monday arriving from places like Bangaluru, Hyderabad, Delhi, Mumbai, Mydore and others bringing in the air travelers in the coastal state.
“In the interest of our state, I have requested @ICMRDELHI and Ministry of Civil Aviation to permit us to conduct antibody testing of the passengers and the passengers to be issued a COVID negative certificate to enter the state via domestic flights from Monday, 24th May onwards,” Rane tweeted.
“Such testing will help us identify asymptomatic patients while screening them at the airport to avoid community transmission. In keeping with my discussion with the Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant, we are looking forward to a positive response,” he tweeted further.
Rane said that he will be taking up the issue of having Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) for air travellers who fly into Goa with Chief Minister Pramod Sawant.
“Every state can have their own SOP. We will take final decision after discussion with the chief minister,” he said.
Meawhile, Goa Airport Director Gagan Malik said that all the procedures laid down by the civil aviation ministry for the during the boarding and arrival would be adhere to at the airport.
