AP govt being extra cautious with those coming in from high-risk states

Passengers coming into Andhra Pradesh from highly-affected states like Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Tamil Nadu will have to undergo a mandatory seven-day institutional quarantine following which they will be sent to hospitals or for home quarantine based on their COVID-19 test results.

Amaravati (Andhra Pradesh): With 'Unlock 1.0' coming into effect, the Andhra Pradesh government has directed officials to exercise extra caution in the case of people coming in from states highly-affected by COVID-19.

"Those seeking to come from less coronavirus-affected states will be sent to home quarantine and those from highly- affected states will be sent to institutional quarantine for seven days," State Director General of Police D G Sawang said.

"After that, if they test positive for COVID-19, they will be sent to hospital or, if negative, for home quarantine for further seven days," he added.

States like Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh and Delhi fall in this category.

However, people above 60 years, below 10 years, pregnant women and diseased will be allowed 14-day home quarantine.

While those seeking to come to AP from other states in private vehicles should obtain an e-pass through the government's 'Spandana' web portal and undergo medical tests, foreign returnees will have to necessarily go for government or paid quarantine for 14 days.

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Passengers travelling within the state are excluded from the quarantine provided passenger should be asymptomatic.

Meanwhile, passengers coming in to the state from neighbouring Telangana will be tested in a random manner. Five per cent of passengers in each compartment are to be tested randomly. This type of testing is to be experimented for one week.

(With inputs from agencies)