India launches first airport Covid-19 testing facility at Delhi

India has opened an airport Covid-19 testing facility at Indira Gandhi International Airport in New Delhi amid rising novel coronavirus cases in the country.

The facility was launched by Delhi International Airport (DIAL), the operator of the airport.

According to a Livemint report, DIAL established the testing facility at the multi-level car parking area of Terminal 3 for arriving international passengers.

The lab is equipped to test 2,500 samples per day and generate results in around six hours.

Passengers boarding connecting flights are therefore advised to keep an eight to ten hour window.

Passengers that test negative will be provided a clearance for their onward journey while travellers testing positive will be moved to a hospital, institutional quarantine facility or to their homes.

The centre was set up in collaboration with Genestrings Diagnostic Center, a Delhi-based laboratory.

Genestrings Diagnostic Center director Rajat Arora was quoted by the publication as saying: “We’ve equipped the lab to handle up to 2,500 samples per day in the initial days. We’re ready to quickly ramp up our testing capacity multiple folds of up to 15,000 tests per day in this 3,500ft² facility.”

Passengers can book a testing slot through the website prior to their journey and can make online payments to minimise touch transactions.

Globally, India is the second worst country hit by the pandemic in terms of total confirmed cases.

As of 14 September, the disease has infected more than 4.8 million people in the country. The death toll has crossed 79,200.