Delhi airport to soon start COVID-19 testing for international departures: Genestrings

International passengers taking ir flights from Delhi airport will soon be able to get mselves tested for COVID-19 right before ir departure, Genestrings Diagstic Center which operates testing lab at airport said on Saturday.

COVID-19 testing facility, which started operating on September 12 at Delhi airport, is available only for international arrivals currently.

Earlier in day, Genestrings issued a press release saying, " (testing) facility has w been extended to air travellers leaving India for or countries." However, company later revised its press release, saying that testing facility "will soon" be extended to air travellers departing from India.

"tably, international travel rules require passengers travelling from one country to ar to produce COVID negative reports," it ded.

lab uses RT-PCR tests and provides reports within 4-6 hours.

" test is available 24/7 and is priced at Rs 2,400 as mandated by Delhi government," release said.

"As more people are w taking up international travel, Delhi Airport authorities felt need to provide testing facility to outbound passengers as well," said Rajat Arora, Director, Genestrings Diagstic Center.

Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL) started COVID-19 testing facility on September 12 at multi-level car parking area of Terminal 3 in collaboration with Genestrings Diagstic Centre, which is a group company of Yashoda Hospitals.

Scheduled international flights have been suspended in India since March 23 due to coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

However, special international passenger flights have been operating in India under Vande Bharat Mission since May and under bilateral air bubble arrangements formed between India and or countries since July.

India started scheduled domestic passenger flights on May 25 after a gap of two months due to coronavirus pandemic.