Rt-Pcr Test: A Necessary Evil For Us-Bound Travelers?

As of January 2023, the US requires a negative PCR COVID-19 test for all incoming international travellers, including US citizens. This rule is in place to ensure the virus does not resurge and to keep travel safe. The test must be taken within 2 days before travel and can be either an antigen test or a nucleic acid amplification test. If you are travelling to the US from China, Macau, or Hong Kong, or have been in any of those countries in the 10 days before travel to the US, you must provide a negative COVID-19 viral test result or documentation of recovery in the last 90 days.

RT-PCR test not required for passengers transiting from high-risk countries

As per the latest government advisory, effective 1st January 2023, all passengers arriving or transiting from countries identified as 'High Risk', including China, Singapore, Hong Kong, the Republic of Korea, Thailand, and Japan, will have to undergo a mandatory RT-PCR test. This test must be conducted within 72 hours before undertaking the journey. These restrictions also include filling out a self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha Portal.

However, the Delhi Airport has clarified that passengers transiting from high-risk countries are not required to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test or fill out a declaration form on the Air Suvidha portal. In a tweet, the Delhi Airport authorities stated,

> If passengers are transiting from a high-risk country without completing/crossing immigration in that country, they do not need to fill a Self-Declaration form or require a negative RT-PCR report to enter India. For any requirement by the airline, you are requested to get in touch with them.

It is important to note that Singapore, Japan, and Hong Kong are common transit points for international travellers travelling between India and the Far East, Indonesia, Australia, and the west coast of North America. While travellers from high-risk countries are not required to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test, they may be chosen at random by the airline for Covid-19 testing upon their arrival in India. If such travellers test positive, their samples will be sent for genomic testing at the INSACOG laboratory network, and they will be treated and isolated as per the standard protocol.

RT-PCR test not needed for inter-state travel in India

As of January 2023, travellers to India from countries identified as 'high risk'—including China, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Thailand and Hong Kong—are required to present a negative RT-PCR test, taken within 72 hours of their departure, and fill out a self-declaration form on the Air Suvidha Portal. However, this does not apply to those transiting through these countries, who are not required to take a pre-departure Covid-19 test or fill out a declaration form.

Within India, the need for an RT-PCR test for inter-state travel has been removed. The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) advised that the need for RT-PCR tests for healthy individuals travelling between states be removed to reduce the load on laboratories. Instead, rapid antigen tests (RAT) have been recommended as an alternative, despite being less accurate than RT-PCR tests.

In the US, a negative RT-PCR COVID-19 test result is necessary for all travellers arriving from a foreign country. The test must be taken within three days of departure and can be either a diagnostic-standard test, such as a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test, or a Lateral Flow or LAMP test.

The US requires a negative PCR COVID-19 test for all incoming international travellers

The test result must be presented as written documentation, either on printed paper or as an electronic copy. It must be authorised for use by the relevant national authority to detect SARS-CoV-2 in the country where the test is administered. For those travelling to the US from China, Macau, or Hong Kong, or who have been in any of the countries in the 10 days before travel to the US, this test is mandatory. The same rule applies to those flying from Incheon International Airport in Seoul, Republic of Korea, Toronto Pearson International Airport in Canada, or Vancouver International Airport in Canada.

If you are not travelling from any of the locations and airports specified above, you are not required to take a COVID test before travelling to the US. However, it is still advised to get tested within 3 days before departure and to avoid travelling if the result is positive. Children under 2 years of age are exempt from submitting a negative PCR test result, even if they are coming from the specified countries or airports. Passengers from these locations are also exempt if they have documented recovery from COVID-19 in the past 90 days.

At US airports, there is currently no COVID screening required. However, you must get a COVID-19 viral test before travelling and show your negative result to the airline before boarding if you're flying from certain countries or airports. The USA's post-arrival testing requirements have been relaxed, but travellers are encouraged to get tested with a viral test 3-5 days after travel and to self-monitor for symptoms.

The test must be taken 2 days before travel

The US government has implemented strict measures to curb the spread of COVID-19. As per the CDC guidelines, all individuals above the age of two travelling to the US by air have to carry their negative COVID-19 testing reports. The test must be taken one day before the travel date. This rule applies to all travellers, irrespective of their nationality or vaccination status.

The CDC guidelines also state that the test report must be a negative pre-departure viral test result for SARS-CoV-2 conducted on a specimen collected no more than one calendar day before the flight's departure from a foreign country. The test report can be either a paper or electronic copy.

The CDC guidelines further mention that travellers can also provide documentation showing they have recovered from COVID-19 within the last 90 days before boarding the flight. This recovery documentation must include a positive test result from within the last 90 days and a letter from a licensed health care provider or a public health official stating that the passenger has been cleared for travel.

These guidelines are subject to change as the CDC and other health authorities continue to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary. It is always advisable to check for the latest updates and guidelines before travelling.

Children under 2 are exempt from needing a negative PCR test result

The US has specific requirements for international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. All foreign nationals seeking to visit the United States must provide proof of full vaccination and a negative COVID-19 test result. The timing of the test depends on the vaccination status of the individual. However, there are exemptions for children under the age of 2, who do not need to present a negative test result.

Children under the age of 2 are exempt from needing a negative PCR test result when travelling to the US. This exemption is part of the US rules for international travel during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rules, which came into effect in November 2021, require most foreign nationals to be fully vaccinated and to present a negative COVID-19 test. The test must be taken within three days of departure for vaccinated individuals, and within one day of departure for unvaccinated individuals.

Children under the age of 2 do not need to present a negative test result, regardless of their vaccination status or that of their travelling companions. This exemption is in place for very young children, who may not be able to comply with testing requirements. Older children are still required to test negative for COVID-19 before travelling to the US. Children aged 2 to 17 must be tested within three days before their flight if they are travelling with a fully vaccinated adult. If they are travelling with an unvaccinated adult or are unaccompanied, they must be tested within one day of their flight.

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) may grant humanitarian exemptions in certain circumstances, such as when emergency travel is necessary to protect someone's life, health, or physical safety. These exemptions are granted on an extremely limited basis and must be approved by the CDC. For any travel-related queries, it is recommended that individuals contact their airline or aircraft operator for guidance and to confirm the specific requirements and restrictions that may be in place.

Frequently asked questions