West Bengal makes negative COVID-19 report must for arrivals from Maharashtra, 3 other states

Kolkata: Amid a spike in coronavirus infections in Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana, the West Bengal government on Wednesday made it mandatory for passengers travelling in flights from these states to produce negative COVID-19 reports. According to a notification issued by the health department, passengers should undergo RT-PCR tests within 72 hours of the flight departure. “In view of the increasing trend of COVID cases in the states of Maharashtra, Kerala, Karnataka and Telangana and in continuation of earlier order issued last August, this is to inform you that the state government has decided that from 27 February noon, all passengers arriving from the four states must carry a COVID negative RT-PCR report,” it said. Necessary instructions to all the airlines would be issued in this connection, it added. The COVID-19 tally of West Bengal mounted to 5,74,301 after 202 fresh cases were recorded on Wednesday, a health department bulletin said. The toll increased to 10,256 after three more COVID-19 patients died. The three deaths from Kolkata, North 24 Parganas, Uttar Dinajpur districts were due to comorbidities where COVID-19 was incidental, it added.