Fully vaccinated passengers exempted from carrying a negative RTPCR report to travel to Port Blair

Port Blair, Sept 23 (UNI) The Civil Aviation Department of Andaman and Nicobar Administration has exempted all asymptomatic passengers who have been vaccinated with both doses of the COVID 19 vaccine and are in possession of the final vaccination certificate from mandatory requirement of carrying a negative RTPCR report to travel to Port Blair from mainland. All such fully vaccinated passengers who are in possession of the final vaccination certificate issued through the COWIN portal and 15 days have lapsed since the second dose of the vaccine will also be exempted from undergoing additional RTPCR test on arrival at Port Blair airport In an official advisory Dr. V. Candavelou, Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Civil Aviation and Health) mentioned that fully vaccinated passengers shall also have to produce the ID card /document mentioned in the Vaccination Certificate, for verification. He mentioned that passengers who are found symptomatic on arrival at Port Blair, irrespective of their vaccination status, shall be subjected to RTPCR/Rapid Antigen Test at the airport terminal to aid identification. “All other passengers viz. unvaccinated, partially vaccinated (those who have taken only 1 dose of COVID vaccine) and those who have taken both doses, but have not completed 15 days since the administration of 2nd dose, shall have to produce negative RT-PCR report to travel to Port Blair from mainland, as is the practice now. Those passengers will also have to undergo additional RT-PCR test on arrival at Port Blair,” Dr. V. Candavelou added. However, the Commissioner-cum-Secretary (Civil Aviation and Health) mentioned that despite above exemption, it is mandated that all passengers, irrespective of status of vaccination, shall scrupulously follow COVID Appropriate Behaviour at all times. Meanwhile, the Andaman Association of Tour Operators (AATO) has expressed gratitude towards A&N Administration for abolishing the mandatory negative RTPCR test report and RTPCR testing on arrival for all the double vaccinated passengers. AATO president M.Vinod said the decision will ease the travel restrictions for tourists and boost tourism.